Los Angeles Angels Writer Says Seattle Mariners Will "Definitely" Be on Short List For Shohei Ohtani

Seattle Mariners fans definitely want Los Angeles Star Shohei Ohtani to sign in Seattle in the offseason. They demonstrated as much during the All-Star Game in Seattle earlier this week.

But as for where Ohtani will actually sign when he becomes a free agent after the year ends? Nobody knows that.

However, Angels Insider Jeff Fletcher, who wrote a book on Ohtani, says he thinks the Mariners will "definitely" be on the short list for Ohtani this offseason.

He made the following comments to Seattle Sports 710 on Friday:

“I think Seattle’s definitely one of the teams that would be on the shortlist for him. Especially with how they’ve improved lately the last couple years, they look like they can be a good team,” he said. “I think the Mariners were probably the runner-up the first time (when Ohtani signed with the Angels ahead of the 2018 season), and it came down to him liking what (then-Angels general manager) Billy Eppler and the Angels had to say about the feeling of belonging and the connection that he made to them. But I think definitely fans in Seattle should feel like they have a pretty decent chance.”

That, coupled with Ohtani's comments after the All-Star Game on Tuesday, should continue to fuel optimism for Mariners fans about signing the most coveted free agent in baseball history.

A once in a generation talent, he is hitting .302 this year for the Angels with 32 homers and 71 RBI. His 32 homers lead baseball and he's posted a robust .387 on-base percentage.

He's also 7-4 on the mound and has registered 132 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.

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