Shohei Ohtani futures: Where will Japanese star sign in MLB free agency?

While there are some big names on the open market in MLB free agency, none is more notable than Shohei Ohtani. It’s widely expected he will not return to the Los Angeles Angels, where his talent has honestly been wasted. Ohtani reportedly wants to win now, with a plethora of organizations looking to convince him to play for their ball club for the foreseeable future. Ohtani doesn’t want his meetings with teams to be reported on heavily and will apparently hold it against any team that doesn’t keep the meetings private. Below, we’ll discuss a few of the potential landing spots for Ohtani, with none other than the Los Angeles Dodgers sitting as the favorite to sign the 29-year-old.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Is this a surprise? Well, not really. Although reports indicate that Ohtani isn’t so worried about geography this time around in free agency, inking a deal with the Dodgers would allow him to stay in LA and play for a franchise who is a contender each and every year. And as we know, Los Angeles is never afraid to spend big, signing both Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to massive contracts in recent years. The Dodgers have the money to make Ohtani happy and the players to make a World Series run. You add Ohtani to the middle of this lineup and it’s a nightmare for opposing arms. Plus, once he’s pitching again, it makes the Dodgers even more frightening in the NL West. They’re a +110 favorite to sign Ohtani at Bodog.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs just narrowly missed the playoffs in 2023 but made a serious splash already this fall, stealing Craig Counsell away from the Milwaukee Brewers to be their next skipper. Counsell maximized a Brew Crew roster that had little star talent each and every year and he’s expected to be a game-changer on the North Side. Chicago is reportedly alongside the Dodgers in the running for Ohtani and also has the money to pay him. The Cubbies have lots of young talent, the No. 4 minor league system in the MLB, and a great manager in Counsell. If they can sign Ohtani and another star, this club is back in contention in the NL. Maybe he will follow in Michael Jordan’s footsteps and play in Chicago as well. The Cubbies have the second-best Ohtani odds at most MLB betting sites.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants are very much in the mix for Ohtani, but Oracle Park could reportedly be an obstacle in them signing the Japanese icon because it’s one of the most difficult ballparks in the big leagues to hit a home run. Considering he’s strictly going to be a DH in 2024, this may play a factor in San Francisco convincing Ohtani to put on a Giants jersey.

Long shots for Ohtani

The New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Angels, and even the New York Yankees are all seen as long shots to sign Shohei Ohtani as well. The Mets are in a bit of a retool so it feels unlikely they pursue him. The Blue Jays are an intriguing possibility given their talented roster. The Angels aren’t going to get Ohtani again, that’s a fact. The Mariners and Yankees are ones to possibly keep an eye on, too.