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Angels News: Top-Heavy NL West Franchises Already Battling to Land Shohei Ohtani

The bidding war is only beginning!

Noel Sanchez

Angels News: Top-Heavy NL West Franchises Already Battling to Land Shohei Ohtani
Angels News: Top-Heavy NL West Franchises Already Battling to Land Shohei Ohtani /
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Shohei Ohtani is set to enter one of the craziest free agency periods that we've seen in American sports since LeBron James back in 2011. Don't expect the 28-year-old superstar to put together a documentary similar to 'The Decision' where he reveals where he'll be signing next but the coverage is going to be special.

The Angels are doing everything in their power to stay competitive this year and show Ohtani why he has no reason to leave to a different franchise. However, it can be argued that the lengths they must go to prove this show The Unicorn why he should take his talents elsewhere.

And it's looking like two NL West "contenders are already starting to feel the pressure of Ohtani's free agency coming soon and whispers are already starting as to how they will approach the situation.

The reason why I put quotation marks when mentioning contenders is because one of the clubhouses involved right now is the San Diego Padres and they have yet to live up to expectations yet this season. Their talent is all there and they likely will figure everything out within the coming months but it will take time.

Bleacher Report's Fransisco Rosa compiled a piece where he spoke on potential suitors for Ohtani and revealed that Peter Seidler and the Padres' front office will be willing to break the bank for the superstar.

"Padres' owner Peter Seidler has been known to dish out a lot of money to high-level free agents in the past, most recently with shortstop Xander Bogaerts (11-years, $280 million). It's wild to think about what he'd be willing to offer to a unique talent like Ohtani."

"Why would anyone think it's going to be different with Ohtani?" one Padres employee said. "He might not pick us, but [Seidler] is going to make it damn hard for him to turn us down."

(Via Bleacher Report)

ESPN's Buster Olney also has been following the situation very closely and views the Los Angeles Dodgers as the obvious favorite to steal the star pitcher/slugger away from Anaheim.

"Olney listed the Dodgers as the favorite to land Ohtani, who may be looking at a potential

$500 million contract

with whatever team he decides to land with. And even as the organization with the fifth-highest payroll in the league,

according to Spotrac

, Los Angeles has been doing its due diligence in making room for Ohtani's potential arrival."

"It makes too much sense for them," one executive said. "It's a market that responds to stars, and he's the biggest star in the game."

(Via Bleacher Report)

The focus is undoubtedly on winning for the Angels this season but these rumors should be kept a close eye on by them moving forward.

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Noel Sanchez
NOEL SANCHEZ

Noel is currently in his third year at California Polytechnic University of Pomona and is pursuing a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Multi-Media Journalism. He has always had a deep passion for sports and writing.

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