MLB Insider Has Padres Among Top Landing Spots for Shohei Ohtani in Free Agency
Arguably the greatest baseball player ever hits free agency this offseason and 30 teams will be in on him. Your San Diego Padres, per Jim Bowden of the Athletic, are among the top teams that could land the once-in-a-lifetime player.
Best fits: Dodgers, Rangers, Mariners, Mets, Red Sox, Padres, Giants, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays
Contract prediction: Ten years, $477 million with incentives and escalators that take the deal to more than half a billion dollars
Jim Bowden - The Athletic
Even after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Ohtani will likely garner the largest contract in MLB history.
How Would Shohei Ohtani Fit on the Padres?
Only Shohei Ohtani ultimately knows what he wants in a team. The only crumb he gave to the media was that he wanted to play for a winner.
Even though 2023 disappointed everyone, the talent on the roster cannot be denied. A year ago the Friars beat the Dodgers in four games to make it to the NLCS. In San Diego, Ohtani will have the opportunity to compete for a championship year in and year out.
Arguably the Padres' greatest needs going into 2024 are designated hitter and starting pitcher. He will not pitch next year, but Ohtani still provides elite play at the plate. Then, in the years following, the club has both positions locked up for the remainder of his contract.
Lastly, he does not have to go far from his current club. When signing with the Angels, the proximity to Japan played a significant factor in that decision. San Diego not only keeps him on the same coast but it is not far from his current stateside home in Anaheim.
What's the Concern in Shohei Ohtani Joining San Diego?
Peter Seidler has shown a willingness to pay for top talent in free agency. Unfortunately, this appears to put him in a bit of a bind this year.
Recently, it came out that the team took out a loan to clean up their end-of-year finances. On top of that, rumors have swirled that the team is looking to shed payroll.
If the latter proves to be false, and Seidler continues his spending ways, there's no reason Ohtani can't be in this lineup in 2024.
