Inside The Padres

Insider Believes Padres Will be Used by Shohei Ohtani as Free Agency Leverage

This would be a major loss for the Friars.
Noel Sanchez|
Insider Believes Padres Will be Used by Shohei Ohtani as Free Agency Leverage
Insider Believes Padres Will be Used by Shohei Ohtani as Free Agency Leverage

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San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have gotten both ends of the stick when it comes to signing big-name free agents recently. Xander Bogaerts was brought in this most recent offseason on an 11-year, $280 million contract and he has been the friars' most consistent offensive option thus far into 2023.

However, just before that they also tried to make a run at a different shortstop in Trea Turner and failed to bring him in despite a $342 million offer. Luckily, Bogaerts was still up for grabs but with Juan Soto yet to receive a new extension, San Diego could look to go hard in next year's free agency once again.

Shohei Ohtani is the obvious top choice for any team that is looking to contend and the Padres have already been linked as a team that will go all-in for him, especially if they do not grant a new contract to Soto.

Peter Seidler and the rest of San Diego's front office have already made it clear that they are not afraid to break the bank in the process of building a World Series contending team. They have a lot of solid pitchers in Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and the rest of the staff.

However, none of those prove to be as elite as Ohtani. Oh yeah, he's one of the most dangerous sluggers in the game as well.

But is San Diego where the 28-year-old superstar wants to end up in?

Ohtani has only played with the Los Angeles Angels his entire career and a certain ESPN insider believes that if he leaves the franchise, he doesn't necessarily want to depart from the city.

This also includes a sneaky plan to use the Padres as a way to set his money market for the Dodgers to match.

"I think he uses the Padres and Mets to run up the price, but he wants to and will go with the Dodgers."

(Via ESPN)

This is probably something that the Friars need to keep an eye out as Ohtani's free agency looms because it could be a route he takes.

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Noel Sanchez
NOEL SANCHEZ

Noel is currently in his third year at California Polytechnic University of Pomona and is pursuing a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Multi-Media Journalism. He has always had a deep passion for sports and writing.

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