Sho Me the Money!

by Bryan Nashalsky

Sports Editor

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

Shohei Ohtani gets the job done on both sides of the baseball. Illustrated by: Phil Spiker/Star Tribune

Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The day the Los Angeles Angels were dreading all season: two-way star, generational phenom, Shohei Ohtani’s contract expired.

Ohtani now has all winter to decide which team’s roster to bolster. Will it be the defending champions, the Texas Rangers? Could the Mets’ moneybags persuade “Showtime” to take a bite out of the Big Apple? Let’s explore the endless possibilities - well, the 30 that is.

Since trade talks swirled around last winter, Ohtani emphasized his desire to play for a serious contender. When asked if he wanted to stay with the Angels in LA, Ohtani expressed his love for the organization, fans, and atmosphere; however, he declared that “more than that, [he] wants to win,” and winning is the “biggest thing” to him.

In the six years Ohtani was with Angels, the Halos finished with a winning percentage below .500 each season. Not only did they have the undisputed best player of this decade, but the most talented player of last decade as well with Mike Trout. It is apparent that Ohtani has low interest in returning to Anaheim, but there’s still a contender in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have grown to be front runners for the two-way star. Unlike the Angels, the Dodgers have made the playoffs each year for the 11 seasons, which according to dodgerblue.com is the “longest active streak” across the big four major professional sports leagues (MLB, NHL, NFL, and NBA). This includes one World Series title and three NLCS championships. If Ohtani wants to join a competitor, the Dodgers definitely don’t fall flat.

Jake Beeson (10) thinks the Dodgers could snag Showtime not only because they’re a powerhouse, but because they “have enough salary cap” to be able to maintain him. Deagan Fought (9) also thinks Ohtani will wind up in Los Angeles since he would provide a “spark” to their lineup, and they “need a new arm,” with three time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw approaching age 36 season.

That being said, the New York Mets have lost ground in the Ohtani race. A promising 2022 with a record of 101-61 made their 2023 season going 75-87 look more than depressing. Despite holding Rookie of the Year finalist Kodai Senga, Silver Slugger Fransisco Lindor, and a promising farm system, it seems as though Shohei’s interest in the Mets depleted solely based on the 2023 tragedy.

The Mets only have one last hope in Shohei coming to the Big Apple, and that’s if Ohtani could be persuaded by the number on his paycheck. The Mets possess the richest owner in baseball Steve Chohen, who has obtained a net worth of 19.8 billion USD. The Mets could definitely make a push through their checkbook, however it’s seeming increasingly unlikely.

The Texas Rangers also appear to be a powerhouse in the Ohtani race after achieving their first division title in franchise history. With 2nd and 3rd MVP candidates from this season in shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien, and a rotation with five Cy Young Award recipients, including future hall-of-famer Max Scherzer, the Rangers rebounded their poor 2022 season of 68-94 to becoming World Series Champions. Their success isn’t near over, with rookie standouts Josh Jung and Evan Carter, and two former Vanderbilt stars in Jack Leiter and Kumamoto Rocker developing in the minors. Adding Shohei Ohtani to this group of stars would make opponents hesitate to even make an appearance in the ballpark.

The New York Yankees have the legacy, but ultimately fall short of the recent success necessary to grab Shohei’s attention. The San Francisco Giants have recently been linked to Ohtani, which makes sense since cbssports.com declares “it is believed Ohtani prefers the West Coast.” The Giants had back to back average years following their 2021 division title; could Ohtani be what makes the Bay Area a contender again?

Buzz is constantly whizzing around social media, and it’s hard to differentiate rumors from reality. Maybe the two-way star winds up with a mystery team, who kept their interest in Ohtani from the media until he officially signs with him. No one will know where his head is at until he agrees to a deal. But while we wait, it’s enjoyable to dive into the possibilities.