Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among favorites: Shohei Ohtani
Two-time MLB MVP Shohei Ohtani is currently a free agent, with the Los Angeles Dodgers (-175 odds) and Toronto Blue Jays (+160 odds) being the favorites on the open market.
Whichever team lands, Ohtani will see a huge improvement in his World Series future. The public tends to overreact to free agent signings, and Ohtani is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery. The two-way star from Japan is not expected to play next season, but he will assume designated hitter duties until his elbow heals.
Otani Shohei’s next team odds
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The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers have a +2900 chance to acquire Ohtani in free agency.The Rangers were huge underdogs when they won the title early last season. But they have a +900 chance to come back and win the World Series in back-to-back seasons. If the Rangers can convince Ohtani to play baseball in the heart of Texas, they might emerge as the favorite.
Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Mariners, Padres
According to Ohtani's agent and representatives, teams will be penalized if they discuss the negotiation process with the media, which is why Ohtani's pursuit is kept secret.
Ohtani said he wanted to stay on the West Coast due to its proximity to Japan. If that's the case, there are five teams vying to sign him.
Ohtani played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and was a two-time American League MVP.The Angels could have traded Ohtani before the deadline since they no longer had a chance to make the playoffs. But the Angels remained loyal and became buyers at the deadline. They missed the playoffs but hope the sentiment shows they're ready for Ohtani to retire.
The Angels are listed at +700 and are the third-best team on the betting boards.
The Dodgers are the favorite to sign Ohtani at -175. They were willing to give Ohtani a blank check. The Dodgers also have inside knowledge, as Ohtani has spent six seasons in Southern California.
If Ohtani wants to stay in California but leave Los Angeles, the San Francisco Giants (+800) and San Diego Padres (+400) are possible options.
The Seattle Mariners have a chance to sign Ohtani at +2500 odds. Seattle has a thriving Japanese diaspora community. Ohtani expressed his love for Seattle during an appearance at the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in July 2023.
Oh, Canada, Big Valley
While negotiations have been kept secret, Ohtani has had the most momentum against the Blue Jays in recent days.
General manager Ross Atkins has been trying to negotiate a deal that could be worth more than $500 million.
"Anything we say about a meeting that happened or didn't happen would just hurt our chances of attracting talent," Atkins said in a recent interview. "So in the case of free agency, we're going to follow Stakeholder leadership, deciding what's most convenient, what's best, and what gives us the best opportunity to make our team better."
The Blue Jays have made the playoffs as an AL wild-card team three of the past four seasons. They were quickly eliminated, sweeping three times. The Blue Jays have averaged over 90 wins over the past three seasons and went 89-73 last season while still clinching an AL wild-card spot.
The addition of Ohtani will make the Blue Jays a true World Series contender. The Blue Jays have odds of +1,600 to win the World Series and are the eighth-best team on the MLB Futures rankings.
The Blue Jays saw the biggest increase in their odds to sign Ohtani last week, and according to Bet365, they are now +160 in odds to become Ohtani's new team.
Ohtani is not too keen on New York
The New York Yankees have a lot of money, and the Bronx Bombers have been looking to sign a big-name free agent. Ever since famed hedge fund manager Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets, he has been preparing to invest in the free-agent market.
The Mets had a big offseason last winter, signing several free agent pitchers. After a disastrous season, the Mets traded away Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the trade deadline. The Mets would like to sign another top pitcher like Ohtani, even if he isn't ready for another season. Ohtani and slugger Pete Alonso would be a dangerous duo at the heart of their lineup, but the Mets have a +2800 chance of signing Ohtani in free agency.
In 2002, the Yankees signed former Yomiuri Giants superstar Hideki Matsui. Matsui spent seven seasons in pinstripes and was a two-time All-Star. In 2009, Matsui helped the Yankees win the championship and was named the World Series MVP. The Yankees have not won a World Series since Matsui left the team in 2010.
The Yankees hope to bring in another Japanese star like Matsui. But sources say Ohtani is wary of heading to New York, preferring the West Coast to the East Coast. Ohtani has a +2800 chance to sign with the Yankees.
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