Shohei Ohtani To Red Sox? World Baseball Classic Is Giving Glimpses Of Potential Star Duo

Would a move for the two-way star make sense for Boston?

Shohei Ohtani's Major League Baseball future is going to be the biggest story of the 2023 campaign. 

The season hasn't even started and rumors already have been swirling for months. Although he currently is a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani will be a free agent at the end of the season and multiple teams already have been reportedly linked to the two-way star.

Ohtani is sure to have many suitors outside of the incumbent Angels and his next contract very likely will be the largest contract in MLB history. The New York Mets have been heavily tied to Ohtani along with others, but would it make sense for the Boston Red Sox to eventually join the sweepstakes? 

The 28-year-old not only is one of the best hitters in all of baseball, but also one of the best pitchers. Boston could use a power bat and top-of-the-rotation hurler and Ohtani fits both cases. There's no way for sure to know what will happen. Some have speculated that Ohtani's deal will be the first in league history to reach $500 million which may be out of the price range of the Red Sox. 

Although a signing may be unlikely, the World Baseball Classic is giving Red Sox Nation a look at a potential star duo that would be nice at Fenway Park for years to come. 

Boston signed former Japanese star outfielder Masataka Yoshida this offseason and he already was impressing in Red Sox camp before leaving for the WBC. Ohtani and Yoshida are teammates for Team Japan and already are making waves to kick off the tournament. 

Ohtani shined in the opener for Team Japan across four innings of work and allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out four batters against Team China. He also finished the game 2-for-4 from the plate with two walks and two RBIs. 

The Angels two-way star and Boston's newest outfielder both dominated as Team Japan took down Team Korea on Friday night. Yoshida finished the night 3-for-3 with a walk and five RBIs. Ohtani wasn't too shabby and finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in the 13-4 win. 

Yoshida plates Ohtani. 🇯🇵 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/AI8ni952PX

— MLB (@MLB) March 10, 2023

Ohtani and Yoshida both are leading the way for Team Japan so far early on in the World Baseball Classic and even have found time to create a meme. 

Find you someone who looks at you the same way Shohei Ohtani looks at Masataka Yoshida. pic.twitter.com/NeRFydEVZY

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) March 10, 2023

At the end of the day if Boston wants to acquire Ohtani as a free agent it will have to pay big bucks, but maybe already having Yoshida on the club will help make a move easier. It's certainly unlikely, but Red Sox Nation can hope. 

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