Shohei Ohtani is the best free agent available this offseason and with that has come an expansive list of teams with reported interest.
That’s believed to include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox, among other teams.
Though, it was recently reported the Mariners and Mets were not optimistic in their odds to sign Ohtani. Additionally, it’s believed he prefers to remain on the West Coast and may have a strong affinity for Southern California.
Despite various factors potentially working against them, the Giants may end up making the most lucrative contract offer to Ohtani, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today
If Ohtani does not sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Angels, some executives predict that he’ll end up signing with either the Chicago Cubs or Texas Rangers, while the San Francisco Giants will offer the most money.
The Giants are coming off a season in which they went 79-83 and fired manager Gabe Kapler. He’s since been replaced by Bob Melvin, who was permitted to leave the San Diego Padres despite still being under contract.
The Giants have multiple needs and just a year ago were aggressive in free agency by making offers of more than $300 million for Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. Judge preferred to re-sign with the New York Yankees, while the Giants’ medical team raised issue with Correa’s physical.
Ohtani’s contract value is expected to be in the neighborhood of $500 million but that could change if he decides to sign a short-term deal that would allow the 29-year-old to opt out in the near future in order to re-establish his value as a pitcher.
Shohei Ohtani not prioritizing contract
Although Ohtani figures to be the subject of a bidding war, he reportedly is focused on joining a team he fits best with rather than signing the biggest contract.
