Red Sox Will Be 'Heavily Considered' By Shohei Ohtani In Free Agency
Would the Boston Red Sox actually have a chance to sign the best player in Major League Baseball this winter?
Former Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani will be the most heavily-targeted free agent this offseason and have many destinations to mull over. In doing so, he reportedly will give serious consideration to the Red Sox.
"The Los Angeles Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites to sign Ohtani," USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday.
"The Chicago Cubs are the sleeper pick, several GMs say, particularly with $43 million coming off their books with the expiration of Jason Heyward’s contract and Marcus Stroman opting out.
"The Boston Red Sox, with new GM Craig Breslow, are expected to be heavily considered.
"The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers will all make strong pushes."
The Red Sox's need to bolster the pitching staff could ultimately deter them from going all-in on Ohtani but there has been some optimism that they'll be in the race as of late.
MLB.com listed Boston as one of eight potential landing spots for Ohtani and The New York Post's Jon Heyman gave the Red Sox the fifth-best odds to acquire him.
Ohtani hit .304 with 78 extra-base hits including 44 home runs, 95 RBIs and a 1.066 OPS in 135 games this season. On the mound, he posted a 10-5 record 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.
The 29-year-old has more of an individual impact on the game than anyone else but he can't win alone. With that in mind, the Red Sox might be better off loading up on multiple frontline starters. It would also be an odd fit to add yet another premier left-handed batter.
All of that said, it would be absolutely electric if Ohtani were to choose the Red Sox this winter.
More MLB: Red Sox Linked To Superstar Pitcher With Free Agency About To Heat Up
