Pedro Martinez predicts where top free agent could land this winter
Red Sox pitching legend Pedro Martinez thinks top free agent Shohei Ohtani will land in Boston this offseason.
The two-way superstar will be one of the most sought after free agents of all time. Martinez believes the Ohtani is ready to make the switch to the East Coast.
“I think he’s going to be playing in Boston,” Martinez said to Sports Illustrated in an interview. “I would love to have him. But I think LA is also suited for him. I think San Diego could be another team where him and his friend, Yu Darvish, could probably meet together. I know (Kodai) Senga is on the Mets and they can also bring the money to pay him. So it’s gonna be a few teams that can also afford him. Those are the few places that I can think of Ohtani maybe landing. But I have to say Boston No. 1.”
While Martinez’ comments feel more like wishful thinking than reality. Ohtani has been linked to the Red Sox a few times since the season ended.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman thinks Boston will be a legitimate threat for Ohtani’s services.
“Shohei Ohtani and the Red Sox are starting to be linked more and more,” wrote Heyman. “One executive with an interested team said he believes they are a real threat.”
Heyman isn’t the only MLB insider predicting the Red Sox will be aggressive for the Japanese phenom.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan went on the Baseball Isn’t Dead podcast and gave his take on Ohtani.
“It was just going to be about money before,” Passan said. “I think some teams that were in before may not be in as much now. Some teams that were out before may be a little more in now. I will give you the teams that I actually think are going to be in it. I think the Mets are going to be in it. I think the Red Sox are going to be in it. I think the Cubs are going to be in it. I think the Rangers are going to be in it. I think the Dodgers are going to be in it. I think the Giants are going to be in it. I think the Mariners are going to be in it.”
Free agency doesn’t begin for another couple of weeks. Boston is still in need of a front office leader. Once the dust settles on who will lead the baseball operations department, the Red Sox will shift gears into improving the big league club.
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