All-Star Weekend was something of a pitch from the city of Seattle to Shohei Ohtani. Fans chanted their affection loudly for the star, who will be a free agent this offseason, and likely to receive the most expensive contract in MLB history.
The widely-held expectation is that Ohtani will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though there will obviously be a number of other teams in the mix, much like when he signed with the Angels initially.
Chris Russo joined Murph and Mac on Wednesday and said he thinks the Giants will be a top contender for him.
Russo believes Ohtani wants to stay on the West Coast but won’t stay with the Angels given their failure to build a compelling roster.
“I think the Giants are in play,” Russo said. “So I do think there’s a possibility there. I don’t think he goes to Seattle. But I do think the Dodgers are the leaders. They didn’t spend any money in last year’s offseason. I think the Dodgers are the leading team for him. They came in second last time. I do not think he’s gonna go to the Mets, although [Steve] Cohen will not be outbid. He’ll spend the most money on him. I don’t think he’ll come here to New York. I think he’ll stay on the West Coast. I don’t think the Angels are gonna keep him.”
While he sees the Dodgers, like most people, as the likeliest destination for Ohtani, he pointed out San Francisco as a legitimate option.
Part of that, Russo thinks, is that they need star power, and should aim to make life hard on the Dodgers.
The Giants, they need a star, he’d be a huge star there. The Giants will be competitive in the second half. I don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs. So I think they’d be a big one for him. I think Dodgers one, Giants two. And remember, the Giants can’t just allow him to walk to LA.
They got to put some pressure on the Dodgers and if nothing else, make them up the ante. So from that standpoint, I think the giants will be big players for Ohtani. I don’t think they’re gonna get them. I think at the end of the day he’s gonna go to LA, but I think they’d be players. I think they have a chance.
It remains to be seen what sort of offer the Giants will put on the table for Ohtani, but their efforts to secure a star last season — with the infamous Carlos Correa deal falling through — are no secret.
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