The risk of the Red Sox touchdown two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani at all times felt like a attain, however now the prospect is trying much more unlikely.
According to a report by ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the Red Sox have backed off their pursuit of Ohtani and shifted their focus to different gamers.
“The Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players, sources said,” Passan wrote. “Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels.”
Passan later wrote that the Red Sox are nonetheless within the combine for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 25-year-old Japanese ace who is anticipated to land a deal price nicely over $200 million.
Ohtani, who received his second American League MVP award this season, is anticipated to land the biggest free agent contract in North American sports activities historical past. Even after present process elbow surgical procedure that can hold him off the mound in 2024, Ohtani continues to be anticipated to command a deal price $500-600 million, blowing away the present report set by Mike Trout ($426.5 million).
This previous season the 29-year-old turned in one of many biggest seasons MLB has ever seen, batting .304 with 44 residence runs, 95 RBI, 20 stolen bases and an MLB-best 1.066 OPS whereas additionally going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 132 innings.
A participant like Ohtani would clearly make a big impact on any workforce, however given Boston’s present state of affairs it wouldn’t be a whole shock the Red Sox shifted their focus elsewhere.
Right now the Red Sox want pitching, and Ohtani received’t have the ability to take the mound once more till 2025 on the earliest. He additionally bats left-handed, which received’t assist Boston in its aim so as to add right-handed hitters, and his being a full-time DH would restrict Boston’s lineup flexibility and make it tougher to enhance defensively.
Ohtani could be a direct difference-maker within the coronary heart of the lineup and would supercharge curiosity surrounding the workforce, however nonetheless, if the Red Sox can land two front-of-the-rotation starters for the worth it might take to signal him, it’d be exhausting guilty the membership in the event that they determined that was a greater use of their cash.
Source: www.bostonherald.com