Jon Heyman: SF Giants, Cubs, Dodgers 'going big' for P/DH Shohei Ohtani
While many believe the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs to be leading the charge for megastar two-way free agent Shohei Ohtani (#1-ranked free agent), Jon Heyman of The NY Post reiterated that the Cubs, Dodgers, and SF Giants are the teams that the industry sees as making an all-out push for the longtime Angels ace. It remains difficult to gauge whether Ohtani is actually willing to sign with San Francisco over teams with a better recent track record of winning, but the Giants are hanging around these conversations longer than many anticipated.
SF Giants P Alex Cobb talks to Angels DH Shohei Ohtani during spring training. (2022)
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
"At least the Dodgers, Giants and Cubs are believed going big for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani," wrote Heyman. "The Padres, Rangers, Red Sox, Yankees and many others are linked, and the incumbent Angels are waiting and praying they’ll have a chance to retain arguably baseball’s greatest talent ever."
It's no secret that Ohtani's free agency sweepstakes will have ripple effects that impact MLB for years to come. If the Giants are able to find a way to land him this offseason, it would immediately vault them into a new conversation. While Ohtani will be unable to pitch next season after undergoing his second major UCL surgery this offseason, he remains one of the best hitters in the league and would immediately give the Giants the impact bat they have been searching for.
This is far from the first time the Giants have been tied to the Native of Oshu, Iwate. After several failed pursuits of a superstar last offseason, the Giants have long been expected to once again be one of the most aggressive bidders for top free agents. After a disappointing 80-82 campaign, the pressure on the team's front office and ownership to make some significant additions is even more significant.
Even as the Giants fell out of contention this season, a beat reporter with The Los Angeles Times still saw San Francisco as a threat to sign Ohtani. Heyman has been tying the two sides together for awhile, listing the Giants among the three most likely landing spots for the superstar late last month.
31 years ago, the Giants signed Barry Bonds to the largest contract in MLB history, passing on an opportunity to join the New York Yankees. That decision had massive implications for the league over the next 15 years. Shohei Ohtani is going to set that record this offseason, and his decision could be just as impactful. The SF Giants are hoping that they end up on the winning side of that equation.
