Shohei Ohtani is the ultimate star of baseball in our era. Ohtani is very likely to seek joining a genuine championship contender in the 2023 offseason with practical aspirations of clinching a World Series title in 2024 despite an injury setback that halted his 2023 season. Unfortunately, not everyone will be in the competition to acquire Ohtani. Here are 10 MLB Teams who are just fakers in the race to sign Shohei Ohtani:
San Francisco Giants:
The San Francisco Giants dominated the NL West in the 2010s, winning three World Series Championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014 respectively. However, the Giants have not seen significant postseason success, with unsuccessful playoff runs in 2016 and 2021. The current roster of the Giants does not match the escalating competition among the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Indeed, Ohtani would significantly enhance the Giants’ on-field environment and make them appear like a playoff team. Yet, the Giants are no longer considered genuine title contenders. Currently, their prime years are in the past. They would not be an ideal match for Ohtani, who desires to win now! Additionally, the Giants dismissed manager Gabe Kapler and are still aiming to reconstruct for the future.
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins made a highly unexpected postseason appearance in 2023, reaching the Wildcard round before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies. Ohtani would aid the Marlins in overcoming their playoff obstacles and potentially leading them back to the World Series for the first time since 2003. However, the Marlins lack the financial resources to lure Ohtani to South Beach. The Marlins might fare well without Ohtani on their roster, given their 2023 Wildcard showing, providing an opportunity to build on that momentum for a stronger postseason run in 2024.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs completed another disappointing season, missing out on the postseason for a third consecutive time, despite an 83-79 record. Ohtani would undeniably bring a whirlwind of talent, shaking up the Windy City with his extraordinary skills. However, the Cubs lack the squad that could assist Ohtani in achieving his dream of securing a World Series championship with their current lineup. The Cubs would also confront the dilemma of the expenditure required to attract Ohtani, which seems improbable in the near future.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays started the 2023 season as the hottest team in baseball, boasting a 23-6 record in April. Subsequently, the Rays cooled down to finish in second place in the AL East, trailing behind the Baltimore Orioles. If Ohtani were to join the Rays, it would ignite their chances of a World Series run in 2024. However, due to the Rays’ payroll, they would need to undergo a complete roster overhaul to afford Ohtani’s deserving contract, risking neglecting potential future talent in their farm system, which could have long-term consequences for the Rays.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals had a disastrous 2023 season, finishing last in the NL Central. Ohtani would inject new energy into the team and All-Star veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado. However, the Cardinals would need to make significant adjustments to their rebuilding roster to accommodate the type of contract Ohtani would demand, an outcome that seems highly unlikely as the Cardinals are not currently focused on immediate victory.
San Diego Padres
The Padres have one of baseball’s highest payrolls and they look like they could possibly secure Ohtani. However, they are already committed to payments for players such as Xander Bogaerts, Joe Musgrove, and Manny Machado. If the Padres were to pursue Ohtani’s talents, they would face tough decisions, including
contemplating relinquishing one of their highly touted stars; making reductions to other pivotal positions in their lineup; scaling down their farm system all in a bid to transition into win-now mode with Ohtani leading the charge. Ohtani stationed in San Diego would result in electrifying gameplay in the near future, but at a steep long-term cost for the Padres.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers surprised many by reaching the MLB Postseason this year, culminating in a World Series appearance after a grueling seven-game battle with in-state rivals, the Houston Astros. Given their existing roster, they may seek to pursue Ohtani and integrate him into a lineup brimming with All-Star caliber talent that propelled the Rangers to the World Series. However, it’s worth noting that the Rangers currently have Jacob DeGrom, Corey Seager, and Max Scherzer secured under contracts. Acquiring Ohtani would strain their finances significantly and potentially necessitate the release or pay reduction of one of the Rangers’ stars to accommodate him.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles emerged as an exciting young team to watch in the 2023 MLB season, making a postseason push before being ousted by the Texas Rangers in the ALDS. Incorporating Ohtani into their roster would necessitate an overhaul of their farm system and potentially the replacement of some of their key rotation starters who aided their postseason berth. While it could present an enticing opportunity for a short-term goal of a immediate World Series run, it may not align with the Orioles’ current focus on building a solid winning team in the long term. The timing might just not be right!
Minnesota Twins
Similar to the Baltimore Orioles, the Minnesota Twins enjoyed a strong postseason run in 2023 before being defeated by the Houston Astros in the ALDS. While Ohtani could potentially join the Twins, it might require parting ways with talent such as Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, or Christian Vasquez to accommodate him. The Twins already have a designated hitter (DH) in Royce Lewis and aim to remain competitive in the AL Central with their current lineup.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays endured an early exit from the 2023 Wildcard race against the Minnesota Twins, but they remain a young and promising team in baseball. While Ohtani could potentially thrive north of the border, it’s unlikely that the Blue Jays will make a move for Ohtani anytime soon. There are better equipped options for Ohtani to consider in the AL East, including the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, as well as potentially the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves from the NL East. While anything is possible, it’s best not to expect the Blue Jays to make a move for Ohtani in the near future.
