The Texas Rangers win the 2023 World Series
The Texas Rangers finally did it. Mackenzie Salmon explains how the team’s playoff performance led to the win.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Everywhere you looked, everywhere you looked, everything you heard and everything you could imagine on Tuesday, it was all about Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani was nowhere to be seen. His agent Nez Balelo was not available. And his former Los Angeles Angels boss, Perry Minasian, offered only general comments.
Does not make a difference.
The Ohtani Free Agent Sweepstakes is the epicenter of the Omni Report’s MLB General Manager Meetings, with an entire industry eagerly awaiting the outcome.
“We all dedicate ourselves and our profession to this game,” said Erik Neander, president of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, “because we love it. We love talent. We love stories. And certainly he is as fascinating a talent as we have seen in our generation.
“Throughout the game, this is as expected a decision as it is in our sport. I’m sure that’s just as fascinating to a lot of people, even people who aren’t baseball fans.”
“I think it’s great for our game.”
Ohtani, who will be honored next week with his second American League MVP award in three years, is the greatest two-way athlete in sports history, eclipsing even Babe Ruth. He underwent his second elbow surgery in five years on September 19th and won’t be able to pitch again until 2025 at the earliest, if not later, but whatever. There isn’t a baseball team that doesn’t covet him. Even at a price tag north of $400 million, he is expected to receive the highest seven-figure contract offers in baseball history.
Traditionally, when an established free agent hits the open market, he receives two, perhaps three, legitimate offers. Aaron Judge only received offers from the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres last winter. Bryce Harper’s market consisted of the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants. Manny Machado only had offers from the Padres and Chicago White Sox.
“I had a few big-name players, and a lot of times it was just a team competing against itself,” said one veteran agent. “There just aren’t many teams willing to make that kind of commitment.”
This time it’s different.
Ohtani could have as many as 10 teams making legitimate offers, and perhaps even 20 telling their fan base that they are betting on him too.
Simply put, he is the holy grail of free agency in the sports world.
MLB FREE AGENTS RANKING: Ohtani at the helm, but plenty of star power present
“From an industry perspective and a fan perspective,” said Cleveland Guardians GM Mike Chernoff, “he’s the most interesting story in baseball right now.” He’s simply a unique talent. I try to think of what unique characteristics the boys had over the years, but I can’t think of any.
“He just brings a whole different dynamic just because he’s a two-way player. I can’t even imagine how this is valued on the market.
“I have no idea how it’s going to turn out.”
Large and medium-sized markets will be involved. Teams from San Diego, Toronto, Texas, New York and Chicago will be on offer. The only thing that is guaranteed, GMs say, is that there will be a mystery team, a finalist in the sweepstakes that no one expected.
It could be as shocking as the Winter Meetings of 2000, when the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a record 10-year, $252 million contract, the richest in sports, handily defeating the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta.
“Nobody knows where he’s going to end up,” Houston Astros GM Dana Brown said, “and I think that’s exciting for the game.” You just don’t know what’s going to happen. I think there might be a wildcard team that will show up. These teams can simply appear out of nowhere.
“It’s so unpredictable. I mean, honestly I didn’t even think about the Cubs [Craig] Advice. I didn’t even think about it. I think maybe the Mets or he goes back to Milwaukee, and then all of a sudden it’s the Chicago Cubs.
“Where these things end up is really hard to predict. In free agency, it has to be the perfect city, the perfect fit, and a revenue city that can actually afford him. “Only God knows where he’ll end up.”
Minasian wished he could wave a magic wand and bring him back. The Angels never reached the postseason during his six years with the team, but he was the most electric player in the game, hitting a league-leading 44 home runs with 95 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a career-high 1.066 OPS despite missing most of September . On the mound, he went 25-14 with a 2.69 ERA and struck out 386 batters in 298 innings over the past two years.
Where else can you find a real ace and one of the game’s best batsmen in one package?
“I don’t think the world really recognizes how hard or challenging this is compared to other athletes in the sport,” said Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins. “It’s like there isn’t a quarterback in the NFL who also plays free safety at a high level. It’s just very unique. “As a baseball fan, I appreciate it.”
Brown said, “He’s actually making the American kids think about, ‘Hey, I can throw and hit.'” Remember, when the guys were drafted, they had to choose. “Now the guys will have the opportunity to say I want to do both.”
The angels may be flawed, but they know they are much better off with him than without him, and truly believe they have a real chance of keeping him.
If they wanted to trade him last summer, they could have gotten at least three top-10 prospects from each candidate. Several teams were ready to give their best and then some. Angels owner Arte Moreno also knew he wouldn’t get Ohtani back if he traded him. When Ohtani walked out the door, he was gone forever.
Now they will take their chance and compete with the big boys. The Dodgers remain the clear favorites. The Chicago Cubs and Rangers are serious contenders, with several GMs saying the Cubs may be the most aggressive team for his services. And it would be foolish to discount the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets or even the San Francisco Giants.
“Great player, I think he’ll get a lot of attention,” Minasian said. “And I understand why. We’ll see how the offseason plays out. “We have our plan and we will try to implement it and we will see where it all goes.”
The Angels aren’t promising a playoff spot with Ohtani, just as the Rangers didn’t when they recruited Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jacob deGrom. But in a baseball world where this year’s World Series teams lost 110 and 102 games two years ago, anything can happen.
“I think this is a very desirable place to play,” Minasian said. “It’s in a great part of the country. We have an excellent fan base. The players who have played here since I’ve been here have really had very positive experiences.
“So I think we have a chance if someone is in the market.”
For anyone who doesn’t think Ohtani is interested in returning, Minasian isn’t shying away. They signed Mike Trout to a 10-year, $360 million contract when people thought he would rather play in Philadelphia or New York one day. They outbid the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds for Albert Pujols in 2011. They persuaded Anthony Rendon to go their way in 2019.
Many of these decisions may have backfired, but it showed that Moreno loves his stars and isn’t afraid to spend money, even if it means crossing the $237 million luxury tax threshold in 2024.
“I wouldn’t push anything beyond that,” Minasian said. “I think having the right opportunities is all about winning. …We will do what we can to make the team as good as possible.”
So buckle up, lock the doors and prepare for a seismic impact once Ohtani makes his decision heard throughout the baseball world.
“This is probably the moment I was most focused on the free agents,” Falvey said. “We’ll see how it turns out.
“Just stay out of it [AL] Central. “That’s all I care about.”