Shohei Ohtani, Glittering Star for Angels, Reveals His Priorities In Approaching Free Agency
Shohei Ohtani, Glittering Star for Angels, Reveals His Priorities In Approaching Free Agency – the image is a video screen grab.
Shohei Ohtani, a standout for the Los Angeles Angels, is widely expected to win the American League MVP award for the second time in three years, despite the fact that he may end the season playing for a different club.
If the Angels are not confident that Ohtani will re-sign with them in free agency, they should trade him before the August 1 MLB trade deadline to avoid losing him for nothing in the offseason.
When his contract is up, what will matter most to Ohtani? Where does he intend to find it? How pivotal is success in this context? On Monday, before the All-Star Game in Seattle, he was asked that very subject.
Ohtani claimed through an interpreter that his “feelings” were growing stronger every year. “Losing stinks. He’s competitive, so every year it gets better.
All six of Ohtani’s full seasons with the Angels are expected to end without the team making the postseason. In 2014, the team last competed in the postseason. Ohtani won’t have much success with the Angels if winning is truly his top priority.
The Boston Red Sox aren’t in a position to provide Ohtani with a continuous opportunity to win, which is unfortunate for all parties. Ohtani’s ability to hit and pitch at the highest levels would make him a tremendous asset to the Red Sox.
The prospect of Ohtani and Devers hitting in the centre of the Boston lineup for many years is enticing, especially because the team is looking for another ace in the rotation.
However, at the current rate of play, the Red Sox will finish dead last in the American League East for the fourth time in the last five years.
Rather than pay great players like Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, etc. to stay with the team, ownership has allowed them to go via trade or free agency in recent years.
However, the Red Sox have a rich history, a fantastic manager in Alex Cora, a passionate fan base, and a Japanese superstar in Masataka Yoshida, who has competed with Ohtani on Team Japan numerous times.
The Red Sox shouldn’t be written off as a potential landing destination for Ohtani, but there are better choices for him to explore than Boston if he values winning above all else.
