The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for a winter of transformation, with changes expected both on the field and in the front office.
While the majority of these changes are likely to focus on bolstering the pitching staff, there’s an intriguing possibility that the Red Sox might enter the race for (arguably) the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani.
According to prominent MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Sox are indeed expected to make a run at the two-way phenom.
“I will give you the teams that I think are actually going to be in it (for Ohtani),” Passan said during an appearance on DraftKings’ “Baseball Is Dead” podcast.
He went on to list the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners AND the Boston Red Sox as teams that are expected to pursue Ohtani.
Jeff Passan lists the teams he thinks will be in on Shohei Ohtani and talks about why his free agency history might indicate that he’s looking for a long-term deal pic.twitter.com/NrCwwlpHgH
— Baseball Is Dead (@baseballisdead_) September 27, 2023
Boston currently has a designated hitter vacancy and a pressing need for a frontline starting pitcher.
Ohtani, with his unique dual-threat abilities, could immediately address both of these needs. If acquired, he could fill the designated hitter role and become a valuable addition to the pitching rotation starting in 2025 (when he’s expected to return to the mound).
The 29-year-old superstar had an exceptional 2023 season, boasting a .304 batting average with 78 extra-base hits, including 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a remarkable 1.066 OPS in 135 games.
On the mound, he posted a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA, a 167-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio, held opposing batters to a .184 batting average, and maintained an impressive 1.061 WHIP in 132 innings across 23 starts.
Coming off yet another disappointing season, Red Sox fans are starving to get back on the winning track.
There are concerns that owner John Henry is not as interested in investing into the team as he used to. In other words, there are concerns that he has gotten cheap.
Ohtani certainly won’t come cheap. He’s expected to command a contract with a total worth north of $500 million.
Do you think the Red Sox are actually interested?
Or is this a leak to try and make their fans THINK they are?
Where do you think Ohtani will ultimately end up?