Shohei Ohtani Rumors: The Mets May Have Declared Themselves Out on Angels Star in Free Agency
Shohei Ohtani's impending free agency has been on the minds of the entire baseball world through fans and front offices alike, but one franchise might have already waved the white flag on signing him this winter.
In a tell-all press conference after his trade from Queens to the Halos' division rival Rangers, Max Scherzer disclosed some important information that Mets' GM Billy Eppler shared on the direction of his former employer in the next few seasons.
“I was like, ‘So the team is not going to be pursuing free agents this offseason or assemble a team that can compete for a World Series next year?’ He said, ‘No, we’re not going to be signing the upper-echelon guys. We’re going to be on the smaller deals within free agency. ‘24 is now looking to be more of a kind of transitory year.’”
Scherzer didn't just spill the beans, but he dumped the whole pot of chili onto the floor a la Kevin from The Office in a shocking display of honesty for the baseball world to react to this week.
No matter the circumstances of his departure and whether or not these comments should have been kept in house, the Angels could stand to be the beneficiaries of such news after the Mets were rumored to be in on their Japanese superstar for a few seasons now.
Ohtani is continuing another monster campaign, racking up seasonal awards by the book along the way to a nearly 8 WAR season up to this point.
The two-way superstar has mentioned in the past that he wants to be part of a playoff contender and GM Perry Minasian obliged by making the Halos buyers at this year's trade deadline.
While those returns of investment have provided some uneven results up to this point, the Angels might have one less suitor to worry about come winter to keep their two-way sensation.
