Ohtani Thread - Special Sheriff's Edition (Update: confirmed going to the Dodgers)

[Marew]

You kind of need to get 3-4 good pitching seasons out of him or the contract will be bad.

 

2025-2027 8 war basically half the value of contract assuming no injuries.

 

Maybe some relief innings in his later years.

 

Too bad steroids are illegal.

[L54]

Can Ohtani even play OF this year? If he can't pitch due to Tommy John, doesn't OF require throwing the ball to the infield to catch runners? I'm not sure about the mechanics of the surgery, but I always wondered about that when I read people speculating about him playing outfield this year

 

No he’s not going to play OF in 2024 and jeopardize his rehab

[Jays24]

Can Ohtani even play OF this year? If he can't pitch due to Tommy John, doesn't OF require throwing the ball to the infield to catch runners? I'm not sure about the mechanics of the surgery, but I always wondered about that when I read people speculating about him playing outfield this year

 

Ya I find it hilarious how people here are like if he can't pitch then he'll be a gold glove OFer. No one knows how his OF skills will look in the MLB at whatever age he finally tries it. He's more likely to try 1B by then, which is fine obviously.

[RobinThicc]

 

Idk if this is a good thing or bad thing when it comes to the Giants chances at Ohtani

[deanmike]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/39006296/mlb-winter-meetings-passan-preview-free-agency-trade-rumors-shohei-ohtani-juan-soto

 

The Ohtani extravaganza is barreling toward the finish line, and when he finally agrees to a deal, the number, sources said, will surge well beyond $500 million. One source said he believes Ohtani will receive a contract for at least $550 million. Another said the bidding could reach $600 million. Regardless of where it lands, it will shatter the record for the largest guarantee in North American sports history: the $426.5 million the Los Angeles Angels gave to Ohtani's teammate, Mike Trout.

 

Fears that the reconstructive elbow surgery that will prevent Ohtani from pitching in 2024 -- and has led to understandable questions about his future on the mound -- would put a damper on his free agent value have clearly proved unfounded. A player of Ohtani's caliber -- a two-time American League MVP whose unique brilliance at the plate and on the mound and international stardom makes him an all-time free agent -- transcends the sort of uncertainty that would waylay anyone else's free agency.

 

Given that, it would be foolish to count out any high-revenue team, though by now the field for Ohtani's services has winnowed, sources said. 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. Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels. The San Francisco Giants have long had a fondness for Ohtani, though where they stand in these sweepstakes is unknown.

 

When Ohtani does make his choice, the signing is expected to jump-start a stagnant position-player market in which the largest free agent contract has been outfielder Jason Heyward's one-year, $9 million deal with the Dodgers. While the hitting class is weak, the markets for center fielder Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman, outfielders Jung Hoo Lee, Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and slugger Jorge Soler figure to pick up following Ohtani's signing -- as will the trade of the best bat available.

[Stangstag]

Ya I find it hilarious how people here are like if he can't pitch then he'll be a gold glove OFer. No one knows how his OF skills will look in the MLB at whatever age he finally tries it. He's more likely to try 1B by then, which is fine obviously.

 

He played quite a bit of outfield in Japan WHILE he was pitching every 6th game too.

 

Im 100% certain Ohtani could be moved to the OF full-time if it turns out he can’t pitch anymore. Im not sure he’d be gold glove caliber but he’s likely at least average.

[xposbrad]

You kind of need to get 3-4 good pitching seasons out of him or the contract will be bad.

 

2025-2027 8 war basically half the value of contract assuming no injuries.

 

Maybe some relief innings in his later years.

 

Too bad steroids are illegal.

 

He's 30 years old, the odds are, the contract ends up terrible from a baseball perspective only. Maybe the team makes up for it in revenues but it's going to handicap a team in a couple of years, especially one with very few good prospects.

[Marew]

Yea that’s a given. But if we got ohtani and another rental either now or at the deadline. We maybe have 20-30% chance to win a World Series now or next year, at the expense of probably a rebuild while we have Ohtani later years. Or trade him when it doesn’t pan out and hope he kept his value. I don’t think our odds would be much better than 20-30% over 2024-2025.

[Spanky99]

I'd probably go with "wet blanket" lol

 

Also, everyone and their sister know a signing of that magnitude comes with risk, get the f*** out of here with that s***, lol.

[Spanky99]

Can Ohtani even play OF this year? If he can't pitch due to Tommy John, doesn't OF require throwing the ball to the infield to catch runners? I'm not sure about the mechanics of the surgery, but I always wondered about that when I read people speculating about him playing outfield this year

 

They wouldn't allow it, so no.

[Frenchsoup]

I would lol

[John_Havok]

They wouldn't allow it, so no.

 

He wouldn't be able to play the OF the day of pitching, the day after pitching, probably not on his throw day either so...may as well just DH him full time. That's when he's fully healthy.

 

The year after an arm surgery would be the height of stupidity to play him in the OF

[TheHurl]

One thing that I don't think has been brought up yet...

 

What's Canada's most famous company internationally? Blackberry? Magna? Royal Bank, maybe? First Quantum (for all the wrong reasons)?

 

In Canada's system of oligarchs and oligopolies, they make plenty of money squeezing the middle class and helping the rich launder or hide their money. But they aren't really that well known like Apple or Microsoft. Signing Ohtani would be a power move by Rogers to get on the global stage in what would generally be considered a positive manner by everyone except commies. This isn't just about jersey or ticket sales or even TV in Canada. Based on Ohtani's popularity, Rogers could make the contract back and more just in Japanese/Asian-based revenue streams. And that would be a stepping stone to all sorts of international endeavours.

 

Rogers has to be looking at the state of the eroding middle class, high rents and mortgages etc. in Canada and be thinking "yeah, this isn't going to end well for the growth prospects of our $200/month entertainment packages if we don't do something impactful".

 

Pretty sure this is why the decision really rests with Rogers rather than it being a baseball decision. However, I don't think it is a known path. It isn't as if it is a simple as leverage Ohtani to break into the biggest tech market in the world. Maybe I am wrong and they already know how they are going to make non baseball revenue off this

[Brownie19]

 

I can't believe SD is showing their hand like this. Everyone knows they are broke and can't afford Soto anymore. GM must be offering 50 cents on the dollar.

[Brownie19]

One thing that I don't think has been brought up yet...

 

What's Canada's most famous company internationally? Blackberry? Magna? Royal Bank, maybe? First Quantum (for all the wrong reasons)?

 

 

Mary Browns

[Brownie19]

Ya I find it hilarious how people here are like if he can't pitch then he'll be a gold glove OFer. No one knows how his OF skills will look in the MLB at whatever age he finally tries it. He's more likely to try 1B by then, which is fine obviously.

 

The probability of him being a very good to GG level OFer are quite high. He's one of the most athletic players in the game. One of the fastest runners, who obviously has a huge arm. He was also regarded as a great defensive OFer in Japan. You don't have to squint much (at all?) to see this. Now of course, he hasn't played it in years, so yes, there is an outside chance he's lots some instincts and had turned into Teo out there - but I suspect the probability of that is quite lot - 10-15% chance.

[Stangstag]

The probability of him being a very good to GG level OFer are quite high. He's one of the most athletic players in the game. One of the fastest runners, who obviously has a huge arm. He was also regarded as a great defensive OFer in Japan. You don't have to squint much (at all?) to see this. Now of course, he hasn't played it in years, so yes, there is an outside chance he's lots some instincts and had turned into Teo out there - but I suspect the probability of that is quite lot - 10-15% chance.

 

Even if he’s Teo in the OF, the bat is monstrous and he’d still more valuable there than being a full-time DH.

[John_Havok]

One thing that I don't think has been brought up yet...

 

What's Canada's most famous company internationally? Blackberry? Magna? Royal Bank, maybe? First Quantum (for all the wrong reasons)?

 

In Canada's system of oligarchs and oligopolies, they make plenty of money squeezing the middle class and helping the rich launder or hide their money. But they aren't really that well known like Apple or Microsoft. Signing Ohtani would be a power move by Rogers to get on the global stage in what would generally be considered a positive manner by everyone except commies. This isn't just about jersey or ticket sales or even TV in Canada. Based on Ohtani's popularity, Rogers could make the contract back and more just in Japanese/Asian-based revenue streams. And that would be a stepping stone to all sorts of international endeavours.

 

Rogers has to be looking at the state of the eroding middle class, high rents and mortgages etc. in Canada and be thinking "yeah, this isn't going to end well for the growth prospects of our $200/month entertainment packages if we don't do something impactful".

 

Bombardier comes to mind as far as production companies go, but largely Canada's biggest corps are tech, finance and mining/oil and gas. TD bank, RBC, Nutrien(potash mining), etc. You also may have heard of Shopify.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

The probability of him being a very good to GG level OFer are quite high. He's one of the most athletic players in the game. One of the fastest runners, who obviously has a huge arm. He was also regarded as a great defensive OFer in Japan. You don't have to squint much (at all?) to see this. Now of course, he hasn't played it in years, so yes, there is an outside chance he's lots some instincts and had turned into Teo out there - but I suspect the probability of that is quite lot - 10-15% chance.

 

I suspect Ohtani is extremely comfortable being the Alpha bat in the lineup, probably a lot more than Vladdy. if he does sign with the Jays would we see Vladdy become the player everyone suspects he can be without the pressure on him?

[Brownie19]

I suspect Ohtani is extremely comfortable being the Alpha bat in the lineup, probably a lot more than Vladdy. if he does sign with the Jays would we see Vladdy become the player everyone suspects he can be without the pressure on him?

 

Maybe? I don't know how much things like "pressure to be the alpha" actually influence a players performance. I don't think having Ohtani in the Jays lineup would hurt Vlad at all.

[RobinThicc]

Apparently he was at Oracle Park visiting the Giants this weekend.

 

Morosi says the Braves are in lol

[BTS]

Apparently he was at Oracle Park visiting the Giants this weekend.

 

Morosi says the Braves are in lol

 

AA is going to have a hard time getting him to agree to a 12/200 deal with an annual 1M donation to the Braves foundation.

[John_Havok]

AA is going to have a hard time getting him to agree to a 12/200 deal with an annual 1M donation to the Braves foundation.

 

Lol yeah, but if there's a better example of an org that has financial flexibility and an already elite roster that could certainly afford to actually spend big one guy.. it would be the Braves.

 

All AA would have to do is sell ownership on the plan to get into the CBT territory this season, and then start pulling a Tampa scenario where he turns over 1 big ticket guy every year(ish) to keep the prospect bin full. It's not like he has a shortage of elite players on very tradeable team friendly deals.

 

Like they could sign Ohtani, and then probably immediately flip Ozuna for a decent haul right away. Morton and Fried both leave via FA after 2024, and youve already paid for Ohtani's salary in 2025 from those 3 guys leaving while recovering assets from the Ozuna deal, and Ohtani replacing 2 of those 3 guys for 2025 on the roster.

Edited December 4, 2023 by John_Havok

[Terminator]

Apparently he was at Oracle Park visiting the Giants this weekend.

 

Morosi says the Braves are in lol

 

Ok good, one good in-person look at the dimensions of that park and he'll cross the Giants off the list.

 

I doubt the Braves can pony up the cash for him but given their current status he would probably at least listen to what they have to say.

[Jays24]

Braves being in makes total sense. They have so many tradeable contracts that they'd have 0 issues making room if Ohtani wants to go there.

[Carlos Danger]

Mary Browns

 

In all seriousness, what is Mary Browns?

[wilko]

In all seriousness, what is Mary Browns?

 

https://marybrowns.com/

[John_Havok]

In all seriousness, what is Mary Browns?

 

Canada's not-as-good hybrid-frankenstein version of KFC/Popeye's.

[BTS]

Not sure how any fried chicken place stays open with Popeye's around

[wilko]

Canada's not-as-good hybrid-frankenstein version of KFC/Popeye's.

 

Their taters are good though!