Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Dodgers’ Biggest Competition Out of Running for Superstar This Offseason

After there was much confusion on the direction of the franchise, former New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer asked for a trade elsewhere in the midst of a disappointing season for the team in Queens.

The former Dodger was dealt to Texas at the trade deadline after he got confirmation on some shocking plans for the Mets organization in the future.

"I talked to Billy. I was like, 'OK, are we reloading for 2024?' He goes, 'No, we’re not. Basically our vision now is for 2025-2026, '25 at the earliest, more like '26. We’re going to be making trades around that.' ...

"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.'"

Via The Athletic

"They're looking to compete now for 2025 and 2026. It was not gonna be a reload situation in New York. It was gonna be more of a transition in 2024."

Max Scherzer talks about his conversations with Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen around the trade deadline: pic.twitter.com/s9hT1IsVEd
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 2, 2023

It sounds like Scherzer didn't want to wait around for a rebuild next season, but the timing of the Mets' plan could work towards the Dodgers favor.

Mets owner Steve Cohen hasn't been afraid to shell out the big bucks for the top free agents after spending big on both Scherzer and fellow starter Justin Verlander this past offseason.

After a disappointing season to this point, Scherzer and Verlander were traded as the Mets officially became sellers this deadline — and if GM Billy Eppler's plan comes to fruition, the Dodgers could reap the rewards of this decision.

Shohei Ohtani is set to hit the market this winter and if the Mets' pockets are truly catching up to them, the Dodgers' plan to cut payroll for cheap one year options in a pseudo-reset this season could pay off in spades if the Japanese superstar chooses them in free agency.

Despite a stellar comeback and All-Star season from J.D. Martinez this year as the Dodgers' main designated hitter, Ohtani's versatility as a designated hitter and starting pitcher would help solve two of the Dodgers' biggest issues in the winter.

Should Ohtani pick the Dodgers, Chavez Ravine would be getting the services of a once in a generation talent that continues to stack up awards and build his already insane legacy.

It sounds like the former Dodger and current Ranger Scherzer is helping out his old team once again with this news on one of the biggest rivals to pry the greatest show in baseball away from the Boys in Blue.