Who Will Sign Shohei Ohtani? 8 Potential Free Agent Landing Spots

If Shohei Ohtani leaves the Los Angeles Angels via free agency after the conclusion of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, where might the 2021 American League MVP sign? Here are eight potential free agent destinations for the Japanese star.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will become a free agent upon the conclusion of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, unless he signs an extension with the Angels before that.

If Ohtani does not sign an extension, he will be hotly pursued by a number of clubs. Some believe that he could receive a minimum of $500 million on his next contract.

Ohtani signed as a free agent with the Angels in December of 2017. Before signing with the Angels, he met with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers.

If Ohtani does not sign an extension and does indeed leave the Angels via free agency, here are eight potential free agent destinations for Ohtani:

1) Los Angeles Dodgers — It's no secret that the Los Angeles Dodgers will make a play for Ohtani next winter. The club had a rather quiet 2022-2023 offseason, shedding payroll, and getting under the luxury tax threshold. The Dodgers are expected to make a run at Ohtani.

2) San Diego Padres — USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently reported that the Dodgers' greatest competition for Ohtani could come from their National League West rival, the San Diego Padres. The Padres have invested heavily into their ballclub, and now have the third-highest payroll in the sport. They're also doing very well financially. The Padres will stop selling season tickets on Feb. 4, after selling a franchise-record 23,000 full-season tickets. Though they will face luxury tax penalties, the Padres appear as though they will continue to spend, and at the very least, drive up the price tag on Ohtani as the Dodgers pursue the unique star.

3) San Francisco Giants — After missing out on free agents Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, I expect the Giants to try again next winter to sign a big ticket free agent. Ohtani would be the best available, and given that he's from Japan, he will probably prefer to play on the West Coast. San Francisco should be in the mix.

4) Seattle Mariners — If general manager Jerry Dipoto wants to spend big, he could bring on another Japanese superstar to Seattle, where Ohtani would likely be revered, just as future Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was. The Mariners, like several other teams on this list, met with Ohtani when he first tested free agency in 2017.

5) New York Mets — Like the Padres, the Mets have shown no signs that they will stop spending any time soon. It was reported earlier this winter that the Mets will be pursuing Ohtani.

6) Chicago Cubs — The Cubs met with Ohtani in 2017, and have money, after they parted ways with Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez. The Cubs may be at least a couple of years away from seriously contending in the National League, but one thing that they lack right now is a big time star. Ohtani could be that face-of-the-franchise type player as the club moves into a new era.

7) New York Yankees — The Yankees must be included in just about any compilation of locations where a big ticket free agent could potentially sign, simply because they have a financial advantage over just about every Major League team. New York would be far from Ohtani's native Japan, so it will be interesting to see if the 2021 AL MVP gives serious consideration to the Yankees or Mets.

8) Texas Rangers — The Rangers are implementing a similar strategy to the Padres. They're investing big money into their roster construction. The Rangers met with Ohtani in 2017. Could they pry him away from their division rival?

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