A report from Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports suggests that the New York Mets aren’t too confident about their odds of securing the services of two-way star Shohei Ohtani in free agency.
Ohtani is gearing up for what could be the biggest contract, possibly reaching a staggering sum of 500 million. Financially, the Mets, led by Steve Cohen, are well-equipped to make such a move. However, the prevailing sentiment is that Ohtani may not be too keen on the idea of calling New York home.
Other big contenders in the race for Ohtani reportedly include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers. Despite Ohtani’s recent Tommy John surgery, sidelining his pitching until 2025, his reputation as a formidable hitter remains intact, making him a hot commodity in the upcoming free agency market.
The Mets are focused on Yoshinobu Yamamoto because they "believe they have no realistic chance to land Shohei Ohtani," per @BNightengale pic.twitter.com/DwHLT78Xhw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 13, 2023
As Nightengale noted, the Mets are redirecting their focus toward Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The plan is to bring Yamamoto into the team with a hefty, long-term deal. The Mets are eyeing Yamamoto to take on the role of a No. 1 starter, forming a duo alongside fellow Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga.
While the Mets are expected to throw their hat in the ring for Ohtani, their optimism is tempered, prompting them to explore alternative plans. In the dynamic world of baseball free agency, it seems the Mets are keeping their options open and preparing for various scenarios.
