Pink Sox
“I’d like to have him.”
The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes gained’t formally begin till the 2023 World Sequence concludes.
However even earlier than the free-agent feeding frenzy begins this winter, there have been loads of experiences linking the Pink Sox to the Angels celebrity.
The 29-year-old DH/pitcher won’t be able to take to the mound in 2024 whereas recovering from elbow surgical procedure. However with the perennial MVP candidate nonetheless anticipated to slug on the plate subsequent season (and return to pitching in 2025 and past), Ohtani might nonetheless rewrite the file books this offseason by way of a hefty new contract.
Depend Pink Sox legend Pedro Martinez amongst those that assume that Boston would be the one at hand Ohtani that profitable contract this offseason.
“I feel he’s going to be enjoying in Boston,” Martinez advised Sports activities Illustrated. “I’d like to have him. However I feel LA can also be fitted to him. I feel San Diego may very well be one other group the place him and his good friend, Yu Darvish, might in all probability meet collectively. I do know (Kodai) Senga is on the Mets and so they may deliver the cash to pay him. So it’s gonna be a number of groups that may additionally afford him. These are the few locations that I can consider Ohtani perhaps touchdown. However I’ve to say Boston No. 1.”
Given Martinez’s apparent connections and affinity towards the Pink Sox, it comes as little shock that the Corridor-of-Fame righty thinks that his former group would be the one to reel in Ohtani throughout the offseason.
However a number of MLB reporters have hinted on the shared curiosity between the Pink Sox and Ohtani and the potential for a deal being struck.
Given Boston’s want to bolster its roster (and generate loads of headlines) after posting its third last-place end in 4 seasons, a marquee free agent like Ohtani has loads of attraction.
“Shohei Ohtani and the Pink Sox are beginning to be linked increasingly,” Jon Heyman wrote within the New York Publish earlier this month. “One govt with an group stated he believes they’re an actual risk. Ohtani has a brand new massive cope with New Steadiness out of Boston. Maybe extra essential: The Pink Sox have to stability issues out after three last-place finishes in 4 years.
“If the Pink Sox do land Ohtani, perhaps their trustworthy overlook Mookie Betts. For a short time, anyway.”
Final month, Peter Gammons famous on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter, that an “N.L. Government lengthy aware of Shonei Ohtani believes he’s desirous about Boston, partly due to his relationship with New Steadiness CEO Jim Davis.”
The case may very well be made that the Pink Sox are higher served using their spending energy on a number of confirmed starters like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Lucas Giolito, and Jordan Montgomery.
But when a generational expertise like Ohtani or Juan Soto is up for grabs this offseason, the prospect of bringing that star energy to Boston is perhaps too tempting to go up.
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