Texas Rangers Can Afford to Sign Shohei Ohtani, General Manager Says
NASHVILLE — Don't give up on Shohei Ohtani joining the Texas Rangers just yet.
Although it remains a longshot, Rangers general manager Chris Young said the club is financially capable of signing any available free agent on the market.
The question is, do the World Series champions believe signing Ohtani makes sense financially?
"I believe our organization has the financial resources to compete for any free agent," Young said during the first day of the MLB Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. "We measure the short-term with the mid-term and the long-term and make sure we’re making prudent, financially responsible decisions and marrying all of that."
The Rangers have the financial resources to sign Shohei Ohtani, according to GM Chris Young.
The superstar slugger, who also pitches, could fetch a record contract in the neighborhood of $50 million a year, according to some reports. Perhaps the Rangers believe that's too much for a player who turns 30 next July.
Regardless, Young declined to address whether the club is currently in or out of pursuing Ohtani.
"I’m not going to comment as to any specific reason," he said.
One potential issue could be the fact that Ohtani won't be available as a pitcher in 2024 after having UCL surgery several months ago. Pitching is the Rangers' biggest need this winter, both in the rotation and bullpen.
Young reiterated his stance that the club is willing to spend if the appropriate pitcher is available.
"We’d like to have another established major league starting pitcher on our staff next year," he said.
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