Are Houston Astros Among Teams Expected to Pursue Ohtani?

Could the Houston Astros pursue Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in MLB free agency?

Kade Kistner | May 30, 2023

Are Houston Astros Among Teams Expected to Pursue Ohtani? /

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Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have tried to make themselves perennial World Series champions. Two championships in five years will do that.

Known for having the premier talent and one of the best rosters in the league, the Astros presumably want to keep their dynasty going.

Could adding Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in MLB free agency this winter be in the mix?

According to ESPN, the Astros are not one of the nine teams that are expected to pursue Ohtani this winter.

Houston owner Jim Crane is known for not wanting to sign players to a contract greater than six years and Ohtani would undoubtedly take more than a 10-year, $500 million contract.

One argument that the Astros could make is that they have done just fine without Ohtani all this time despite him being in the same division.

Houston would rather build internally, just as they did with their 2017 and 2022 championship teams.

Adding Ohtani is likely not in the cards for the Astros this winter.

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Published May 30, 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.