Will there be a brake on the LA Dodgers trend? However, in the end, the most advantageous team is the LA Dodgers.
The prevailing view is that Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) will pocket more than $500 million in the 2023-2024 free agent market despite the negative news of an elbow injury. Even if he does not undergo Tommy John surgery, elbow treatment is necessary, and the 2024 season is uncertain.
Even so, it is expected that Otani’s value will remain the same if he returns to dual swords in 2025. Going one step further, The Athletic columnist Jim Borden also predicted that even if Ohtani fails to keep dual-wielding, the $500 million Maginot Line will not collapse.
Bowden made this prediction to The Athletic on the 9th (Korean time) and talked about what Ohtani considers first at the FA negotiation table. The most important condition is money. This is very natural. In the world of professional sports contracts, sincerity equals money.
It was widely known that the next condition was a team from the west coast or western region, which Ohtani preferred. That’s why Ohtani chose the LA Angels when he entered the Major League five years ago. However, Bowden said that what is more important than the club’s location is the possibility of winning the World Series.
“There was a lot of talk that geography would play a big role in choosing the next team, but I heard that wasn’t the main consideration,” Borden said. At the same time, he said, “Otani prefers the west coast, but if it is a team that at least matches the best offer (meaning amount) received in the free agent market, the chances of winning will have more weight than geography.”메이저놀이터
To put it simply, even if it is a western club, if the chances of winning are low, do not go. In that respect, it is safe to say that the possibility of remaining in the LA Angels is 0%. At present, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners are the representative Western teams.
On the other hand, it is true that among teams outside the western region, the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees are mentioned. The New York Mets’ stance is a bit unclear. In other words, if the central and eastern clubs also have the power to win or are prepared to win, there is a possibility that they will win the race to recruit Ohtani.
“Ohtani will enter the free agent market with an open mind and eyes wide open,” Borden said. All things being equal, Ohtani wouldn’t pick an East Coast or Midwest team, but that outcome isn’t a foregone conclusion. “Winning trumps everything for him.”
Additionally, Borden said, “Ohtani wants to be front and center on the biggest stage. That means playing every Halloween and visiting the White House multiple times over the next few years as World Series champions. “That is Otani’s goal.”
In summary, there is a high possibility that the Dodgers trend will not be waned. We have the conditions to not lose in a money fight, we are building a team that has a higher possibility of winning the World Series consistently than any other club, and we are serious about taking on the challenge of winning the World Series. Instead, other Western clubs will likely have to prove to Ohtani that they are ready to win to change the atmosphere in the recruitment competition. Of course, preparation of $500 million+α is basic.