Houston Astros All-Star Makes Case for Ohtani in Free Agency

Houston Astros slugger Kyle Tucker made his case for Shohei Ohtani to join the team during MLB All-Star break.

Kade Kistner | Jul 12, 2023

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Houston Astros

Could the Houston Astros be in the market for Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani when he hits free agency after the 2023 MLB season?

Astros All-Star Kyle Tucker sure hopes.

Speaking at with the Los Angeles Times, Tucker made his pitch to Ohtani for joining the reigning World Series champions.

“Houston is a really good spot. I love playing there,” said Tucker. “We play indoors. Really good food. No income tax. We’ve got a really good team. That should speak for itself.”

Of course the issue that remains for both sides is financials.

Ohtani is projected to bring in a contract worth $500 million-plus. That could be a hindering factor for Houston who tries to sign players to more team-friendly deals that don't exceed six years.

However, Ohtani, who very well may be the best baseball player to ever take the field, could be the exception to the rule.

For the Astros, Ohtani makes perfect sense. The team is trying to figure out their MLB trade deadline plan this season. They could at a versatile bat or another piece to the rotation.

While a trade for Ohtani is unlikely, adding him in free agency would help solidify both needs for years to come.

Houston fans would love to have him. And Tucker has made his pitch. Now it remains to be seen whether or not the front office will have any real interest in pursuing the generational talent this winter.

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Published Jul 12, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.