Shohei Ohtani Breaks Baseball: A $600M Possibility and His Monumental Impact Beyond the Basepaths

The winter meetings have arrived with a promise of action. And how? Per many insiders, there are reasons to believe that Shohei Ohtani may reach his decision during or right after these meetings. The biggest free agent in the sporting world could not only break records but will do so by an unimaginable margin. The interest is high even with a few teams bowing out of his sweepstakes.

A top insider recently speculated that the expected $500 million contract of Ohtani might actually not be the correct number. Chances are that his contract can exceed even this huge amount. With only a few teams remaining, things are surely getting heated up for the two-way phenom.

Shohei Ohtani can go way above $500 million

Recently, Jeff Passan of ESPN discussed the Ohtani sweepstakes and his potential deal. While he informed about teams like the New York Mets and Texas Rangers leaving, there was one figure that was eye-popping. Passan said that the Ohtani deal can go towards $550 million and there’s a chance it could go to even $600 million.

“when he finally agrees to a deal, the number, sources said, will surge well beyond $500 million. One source said he believes Ohtani will receive a contract for at least $550 million. Another said the bidding could reach $600 million.” Passan wrote.

This is an interesting comment as there was a consensus amongst experts that Ohtani’s elbow surgery may have curtailed some of his value. But it seems that the teams are willing to bet on the reigning MVP even after he won’t be pitching in 2024. This could be because of his immense popularity in all of baseball. Notably, Ohtani is an inspiration for millions of baseball fans and could earn any team a massive amount due to his endorsements.

Read more: Did You Know About Shohei Ohtani’s Wild Routine Tied to His 14-Hour Sleep Schedule?

The current record of $426.5 million is held by his LA Angels teammate, Mike Trout. Some of the major players currently remaining in the Ohtani race seem more than ready to offer the biggest possible contract to the two-way phenom.

The current scenario regarding Shotime’s suitors

Passan reported that the Rangers, Mets, and Boston Red Sox were out of the Ohtani race. This has left the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, LA Dodgers, and LA Angels as main suitors for the phenom. All of these teams have a variety of advantages that they can offer.

The Blue Jays and Dodgers remain ahead of others according to some reports. Both of these teams are stable parts of the playoffs. Ohtani has never played in playoffs and this is a major selling point for him. He has already made it public that he’s looking for a winning project.

The Ohtani deal can act as a strong kickstart for this offseason which has gone slow after a few days of strong signings.

Watch This Story: Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream: Before Injury, He Always Wanted Both!