The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes will undeniably dominate baseball’s offseason as it’s not every year that teams have a chance to sign a generational unicorn to a longterm contract.
And while many around baseball see the Los Angeles Dodgers as the favorite the land Ohtani, reports suggest that Ohtani is open to playing on contending teams regardless of geography.
One option, in particular, stood out in a Monday report from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. He said that Ohtani would be “very intrigued by playing for the Atlanta Braves.”
My latest report on Shohei Ohtani’s priorities in free agency — and how they’re different now from when he first arrived to @MLB. @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/YRulDDZZpO
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 13, 2023
Now, Morosi did say that it was unlikely the Braves would sign Ohtani as they are looking for immediate pitching help (Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery). And though the Braves have shown a willingness to spend on contracts to Matt Olson and Austin Riley, it would be difficult to imagine the Braves’ owners at Liberty Media giving the green light for Ohtani’s price tag. Basically, it won’t happen.
Still, the report did enough to suggest that Ohtani is going to prioritize winning and not necessarily choose a team on the West Coast. The Cubs were also mentioned as a legitimate option.
Fans predictably had thoughts on this latest update for Ohtani’s free agency. That Braves lineup would be something else.
This was how Twitter reacted
He is as 99.9999999% not coming here but lemme tell you, if that .00000001% hits I will become a rocket and launch into outer space https://t.co/kWP1LK3Yxv
— local bIogger (@fergoe) November 13, 2023
I’m just as likely to join the Braves as Ohtani is but that isn’t gonna stop me from dreaming of a lineup with him in it! https://t.co/Onr42um0KO
— Gaurav (@gvedak) November 13, 2023
I, too, am intrigued by Shohei Ohtani playing for the Atlanta Braves. I, too, do not expect it to happen. https://t.co/5fxfMzY93g
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) November 13, 2023
Shohei batting behind Acuna with Olson and Riley backing him up. Can you imagine https://t.co/J7r5rgtNTa
— StraightTalkSports (@StraightTalkSp1) November 13, 2023
https://t.co/umaz89eX27 pic.twitter.com/azZROrMRLO
— Austin Riley’s Rakes™️ (@RileysRakes) November 13, 2023
Morosi says "people close to" Ohtani say he's less concerned about geography than in 2017, and he then specifically name-drops the Cubs again (the only other team mentioned, except the Braves, who he mentions them more illustratively than seriously).
good stuff. https://t.co/Vk5QDU5ALE
— Jamie (@JMEsTweets) November 13, 2023
Nothing in this is good for the Mariners. https://t.co/Cpm8kbwZl4
— Colin O'Keefe (@colinokeefe) November 13, 2023
I mean there is a 0% chance the Braves sign Shohei but it’s cool that he likes the idea of it https://t.co/mCaW0uZUN6
— Brian Stevens (@bstevens150) November 13, 2023
I mean i can deal with Ozuna being in LF for a year if we get Ohtani 👀👀 https://t.co/1jeOKy6i4Y
— DisgustingBravesHomer (@braveshomer27) November 13, 2023
