There are a bunch of names on the MLB free agency market this winter, but there’s only one that we’re truly all on the edges of our seat about: Shohei Ohtani.
The man who pitches like a Cy Young candidate and hits dingers at the plate like an MVP is out there, looking for a new contract. Will he decide to stay with the Los Angeles Angels? Or will he move to a new team that will actually contend with him pitching and hitting?
We’re here to help. We’ve put together a ranking of all 30 teams to help him decide on where to go next:
30 to 15. Every team that probably can't afford to pay him
D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY SportsI don’t foresee Ohtani taking a pay cut, and nor should he. So, sorry to the following teams who either likely won’t shell out the money it’ll take or who have high payrolls already:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Minnesota Twins
- Detroit Tigers
- Cleveland Guardians
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- Oakland A’s
- Miami Marlins
- Washington Nationals
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Cincinnati Reds
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
14 and 13. "We would love Ohtani but we're probably out."
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Would you like to be a contender who could win a World Series but you don’t necessarily need to add a bajillion dollars to your payroll? So:
- Atlanta Braves
- Houston Astros
You’re probably out.
12. Toronto Blue Jays
(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) ORG XMIT: MNJC146
I dunno, does he really want to go play in Canada? I swear I don’t mean this in a negative way toward our friends to the north, but if you’ve been living in California for a while, do you want to live in Toronto?
11. Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia and the surrounding areas are great places to live. Phillies fans are amazing. What’s not to like? I just think there are better options, plus the Phils have a ton of money committed to their 2024 roster.
10. Los Angeles Angels
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Only ranked here because they get the “devil you know is better” bump. Otherwise? I wouldn’t re-sign if I were him. The Angels have been a disaster and they had their chance to keep him.
9. Texas Rangers
(AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Joining the defending champs would be quite a flex. I don’t hate it if winning is the priority.
8. Chicago Cubs
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
On one hand: Awesome city, great fanbase, new buzzy manager in Craig Counsell.
On the other: Are the Cubs immediate contenders with Ohtani? Not really?
7. Boston Red Sox
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
See above. Basically the same thing: Locale good, team pretty good, but not sure about immediate contention.
6. San Francisco Giants
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
An underrated destination for a variety of reasons, including that the Giants could give him the payday he could be getting.
5. New York Yankees
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Part I of: “We’re going to slide this checkbook across the table, you fill in the numbers.” Also, New York is awesome, there’s the tradition of Yankees baseball and the team — while disappointing last season — could be really good with him.
4. New York Mets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Part II of: “We’re going to slide this checkbook across the table, you fill in the numbers.” But then owner Steve Cohen then takes out a bag of money and tosses it on the table and says, “Also, here’s your signing bonus.”
3. San Diego Padres
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
I know they’re a longshot. But San Diego is beautiful, he gets to stay in California, this team has the chance to contend … can they make the money work?
2. Seattle Mariners
(Shizuka Minami/Kyodo News via AP)
A near-perfect fit, but Seattle has to back up the Brinks truck.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports
The favorites for a reason. They can afford him and they will be World Series favorites. Too easy.
