Is Shohei Ohtani Going to the Yankees? Can the Pinstripes Snatch Away Shotime From the Dodgers, or Will He Head to the Other New York Team?

The city of New York is in a deep funk. Baseball has suffered terribly in the Bronx as well as Flushing, with passionate New Yorkers revolting in response. Despite boasting the top 2 payrolls in the league, both teams rank near the bottom in performance. They may be in need of a little Shohei Ohtani magic if they can afford it.

The affordability is not in terms of money, of course. The upcoming free agency of the Japanese superstar is all anyone has talked about all year long. Despite injuries reducing his two-way superpowers, MLB analysts still believe he can get a $500 million contract, or above. The question is, after originally rejecting the Big Apple, will Shotime accept the city as a suitor?

Could Shohei Ohtani Head to the New York Yankees?

There are a number of pros and cons of these two major entities coming together. The Los Angeles Angels declared in August end that Shohei Ohtani would not pitch again. He had another UCL tear and required some sort of procedure. A week ago, Shotime gave an update on social media, while his doctor announced some grave but expected news. Ohtani would not pitch again until 2025 at the earliest.

While hitting was still being considered in September, right oblique tightness ended the Japanese slugger’s season. Many have predicted that Ohtani’s body is only going to undergo more wear and tear as the seasons progress. But a massive contract is still in line. Among the many teams pursuing him will be the New York Yankees.

When baseball’s unicorn was first arriving in the majors in 2017, he had rejected New York as a big market. But now that his name is renowned around the world, he might reconsider. It would be almost poetic to see the biggest name baseball has ever produced sign with the most famous baseball team on the planet. The Bronx Bombers could certainly use his ‘alien’ superpowers.

The team’s offense has badly struggled all year long, with trouble starting in 2022. But instead of trading or buying more offensive strength, the Yankees front office stubbornly believed in their current roster. They have paid the price this season with no playoff appearance and could use Ohtani’s hitting prowess since he cannot pitch anyway. But having already been stuck with a team that failed to make it to October, will the Yankees appeal to Shotime?

Will Steve Cohen’s Clear Plans for the New York Mets Sound More Impressive to Ohtani?

Billionaire owner Steve Cohen has not shied away from voicing his interest in Shohei Ohtani. He even flew to Japan for the World Baseball Classic to watch the two-way sensation play live in his home country. The businessman can certainly afford any lucrative numbers the contract might ask for, and it wouldn’t hurt the Mets’ reputation either.

The trouble is, of course, their severe lack of performance in 2023. MLB’s highest-paid team has done no justice to its fans, leaving Queens wanting more. The only silver lining is that Steve Cohen has a plan. Getting rid of veteran pitching duo Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander was the first step. Scherzer had alluded at first that he would be having conversations with the management in the winter. A few days later, the pitcher was wearing Texas Rangers’ colors.

While the Mets’ bullpen could use some strengthening, they’re in need of a good offense first and foremost. A DH might solve some problems, especially if it’s a home run-hitting phenomenon like Shohei Ohtani has been in 2023. One of the major reasons the two-way player might not prefer the Mets could be his rumored preference for the West Coast. In that case, the Dodgers might be a good fit.

READ MORE – Two-Way Phenom Shohei Ohtani’s New York Mets Chances Get a Reality Check From Renowned MLB Insider

But while baseball fans are united in wanting Shotime to join a team that does justice to his immense talent, many would still prefer his next stop to be the Big Apple. There’s nothing like being a baseball star in New York, after all.

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