New York Mets Can Now Take Shot at Ohtani

With Shohei Ohtani turning down his qualifying offer, the New York Mets can take their shot, if they're inclined.

Ready or not, the New York Mets have the opening they need to pursue free agency’s top target.

As reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar who could be named American League MVP later this week, turned down the Los Angeles Angels’ one-year qualifying offer of $20.325 million on Tuesday, ensuring he’ll enter the market as the No. 1 free agent.

Are the Mets interested?

Well, they did the big-time free agency moves the past two offseasons with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Neither is with the team anymore.

But, Ohtani, in spite of recovering from a torn UCL in his pitching arm, could be the AL MVP later this week and could pull a contract in excess of $500 million.

Mets owner Steve Cohen has no issues with spending money and location appears to be less of an issue with Ohtani than previously thought.

On Monday, a report from CBS Sports said that Ohtani was less concerned about geography and more concerned about going to a team that can be competitive and give him a chance to go to the playoffs, something he has not done in his Major League career.

With a new president of baseball operations in David Stearns and a new manager in Carlos Mendoza, it will be intriguing to see in which direction the Mets go — and if they are enticing to Ohtani.

Of course, Ohtani enters the market recovering from his torn UCL, which he suffered earlier this season and has had a procedure to correct it.

The phenom and his representatives have made it clear that he intends to contribute only as a designated hitter in 2024 but will want to resume being a two-way player in 2025, once he is fully recovered from the UCL tear.

That means New York would hopefully be getting the hitter and pitcher that made him a three-time All-Star, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2021 AL MVP.

Ohtani finished 2023 with a slash line of .304/.412/.654/1.066 with 44 home runs and 95 RBI, with his homers leading the American League. As a pitcher he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts and 55 walks.

It wasn’t a surprise that Ohtani turned down the offer. Only seven players received the qualifying offer this offseason, and only 13 of the 124 players that have received it since 2012 have accepted it. Most MLB teams make the move in order to receive draft pick compensation if the player signs elsewhere.