Jon Heyman on Red Sox chances to land Shohei Ohtani: ‘Loom as real threat’
The MLB hot stove hasn’t even begun and the Red Sox are already linked to free agent superstar Shohei Ohtani, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
In his latest column for the Post, one rival executive said that they believe Boston is a “real threat” to land Ohtani.
The Japanese phenom recently inked a big deal with Boston based company New Balance. With the Red Sox need to get out of the AL East basement, the organization needs to make a splash and landing Ohtani would fill the seats at Fenway Park.
MLB Insider Peter Gammons connected the Sox to Ohtani, one National League executive said he believes the former Angels star wants to join the Red Sox.
The 29-year-old will need to DH next season and Boston has Masataka Yoshida who is likely to get time there as well. Boston could sacrifice one more season of Yoshida in left field next season to facilitate Ohtani in their lineup.
The Red Sox are expected to be in on Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other free agent starters this winter. Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 because he had elbow surgery.
"There's not a question in his mind that he's gonna come back and he's gonna continue to do both,” said Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo.
Ohtani is expected to win the AL MVP for the second time in three seasons. The Angels are expected to attempt to bring him back but the writing looks to be on the wall out in Los Angeles.
The addition of Ohtani will strengthen the Sox lineup and would be attractive to other free agent pitchers. The generational star would transform the Red Sox and fanbase. OhtaniMania would run wild in Boston and the Red Sox would begin to be relevant again.
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