The biggest mystery of the 2024 MLB offseason is Shohei Ohtani’s next destination.
All 30 teams want Ohtani, but only a few can afford to pay what is expected to be the most lucrative free-agent contract in North American sports history.
Three teams who were in contention to sign Ohtani heading into the offseason—the Rangers, Red Sox and Mets—“have turned their attention to other players,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Friday.
Passan also reported the Dodgers, Cubs, Blue Jays and Angels are still in the mix, while the Giants’ pursuit of the superstar is “unknown.”
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Texas handed out huge paychecks to infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien in December 2021, an investment that paid off in a 2023 World Series title. Perhaps Ohtani’s price tag—likely greater than Seager and Semien’s deals combined—was too much for the defending champions.
Boston has missed the postseason in four of the last five seasons and is still looking for a franchise player after trading away Mookie Betts in 2020, but it appears the team’s search will continue past Ohtani.
New York is still reeling from its underwhelming 75-win season after racking up the payroll to $350 million last offseason and likely will go elsewhere to piece its roster back together.
Ohtani’s next stop remains a mystery, but it appears to be down to four teams—and maybe five, if San Francisco remains in the hunt.
