Philadelphia Phillies Among Top Teams Expected to Pursue Ohtani

The Philadelphia Phillies are among the top teams reported to be among those expected to pursue Shohei Ohtani in MLB free agency.

With the Los Angeles Angels all but eliminated from postseason contention, all eyes, when it comes to their affairs, turns towards Shohei Ohtani's future.

One thing is for certain: it's not with the Angels. 

As such, The Athletic went to multiple executives across the league to gauge how team's are viewing Ohtani following his elbow injury and which teams are expected to seriously pursue Ohtani.

As for the first part, The Athletic says it shouldn't change much on the money front.

As for the second, the Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be in the thick of the bidding.

"Dave Dombrowski’s calling card has always been building teams around superstars and then filling in around them with above-average or average players. Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, has done it with Miami, Detroit, Boston and now Philadelphia, making it to the World Series with all four organizations," writes Jim Bowden. 

"Therefore, although they already have huge contracts and stars on their roster, the Phillies possibly making a run at Ohtani shouldn’t be ignored. Although the Phillies strongly prefer to use Schwarber as a DH, they know they can win with him in left field, and they control him for only two more seasons after 2023. Aaron Nola is a free agent, and they could allocate his dollars toward Ohtani, who could replace him as a Game 2 starter, behind Zack Wheeler, next October."

Philadelphia pursuing Ohtani wouldn't be surprising, especially if they decided not to pursue re-signing Nola. But where does that leave them while Ohtani recovers?

But just the thought of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Ohtani all being in the same lineup is tantalizing. Not to mention Bryson Stott who is having a breakout season.

It would cost the Phillies an astronomical amount considering the luxury tax, but the global recognition and the branding of Ohtani alone would make it financially viable and even profitable.

If there is an owner and baseball operations partnership who is willing to make such a deal happen it's John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski.