No free agent is more talked about this big baseball offseason than Shohei Ohtani, and several teams have started pursuing the star, including the Toronto Blue Jays.
However, there will be few candidates as the Japanese star could be the first to sign a half-billion dollar contract. Is the risk worth it for someone who won’t be able to compete in 2024 due to surgery?
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Even without his stints on the mound, Ohtani should get a good return on his salary as a designated hitter. So the Jays could turn to him to bolster their offense.
According to Athletic journalist Ken Rosenthal, Toronto could be an unexpected candidate to sign the player who wore the Los Angeles Angels jersey in 2023. The baseball expert quoted Jays right-hand man Ross Atkins, a major league general manager rival man.
In fact, the Queen City club could free up cash by not focusing on contract extensions for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette this winter. The two men are also expected to break the bank, but may wait until 2025.
The Jays’ other good points include that they have made the playoffs the last two years and that they will soon complete major renovations to the Rogers Center regarding the team’s clubhouse and facilities.