Red Sox Reportedly 'Actually Going To Be In It' During Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes

Boston could make a major splash this winter

Scott Neville | Sep 27, 2023

Red Sox Reportedly 'Actually Going To Be In It' During Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox will make some notable changes this winter -- both to the roster and the front office.

While most of the changes are expected to regard the pitching staff, it's possible that the Red Sox make a serious run for one of the greatest players of all time.

"I will give you the teams that I think are actually going to be in it (for Ohtani)," ESPN's Jeff Passan told DraftKings' "Baseball Is Dead" podcast. He went on to list the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners.

A reporter as in the know as Passan saying "I think the Red Sox are going to be in it" for Ohtani is not insignificant. Boston has a designated hitter vacancy and could desperately use a frontline starter.

Ohtani could provide the former immediately and join the rotation in 2025. He'd also be the cornerstone of the Red Sox's quest back to perennial contention and more importantly to ownership -- notoriety.

The 30-year-old superstar hit .304 with 78 extra-base hits including 44 home runs, 95 RBIs and a 1.066 OPS in 135 games. He also posted a 10-5 record on the mound with a 3.14 ERA, 167-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .184 batting average against and a 1.061 WHIP in 132 innings across 23 starts.

While the Red Sox likely plan to invest heavily in the 2024 rotation and pitching staff, they might be tempted to shift their plans to acquire a generational talent in his prime.

If the Ohtani sweepstakes were to come down to these seven organizations, Boston could have a real chance to acquire the two-way sensation. That said, the Red Sox cannot enter 2024 with the same level of pitching talent they currently roll out and it would be a big ask to acquire multiple notable arms alongside Ohtani in the same offseason.

Most of these decisions will be made by the next leader of baseball operations, someone who has yet to join the organization.

More MLB: Red Sox Make Decision On Alex Cora's Future With Club After Last-Place Finish

Published Sep 27, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu