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Shohei Ohtani is not the biggest domino in this game of baseball. He was the Star Wars blockbuster, the Taylor Swift concert, the Stranger Things finale that made us forget there were dominoes in the first place.
Ohtani built his own hot stove. He’s such an outstanding free agent – so strong on the field and so important in the culture – that any team with the money could justify signing him. Necessary? Who thinks about the need for a player like this? It’s like Jeopardy: Ohtani is the answer, and you guess the question later.
In this case: Who is the Los Angeles Dodgers new hitter?
On Saturday, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million deal. In fact, it is the largest contract in baseball history. There is only one Ohtani.
But can we please you with a former MVP, Cy Young, or a Japanese ace?
Ohtani is, of course, No. 1 above The Game‘s assembly of liberals, and Number 2, Aaron Nola, has also been signed, but 22 of our top 25 free agents are still available, and the trade market has barely changed. Now that Ohtani is off the market, baseball can settle into a more normal season. Here are 10 players who could see their market rise now that a baseball unicorn is no longer blocking the sun.
1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
He is now the best free agent in the world, and for some teams, he may have been the main target all along. Yamamoto is a 25-year-old celebrity. He has yet to prove himself in the big leagues. There are, of course, some risks involved, but because of his age, skill, and Japanese history, some teams – maybe even many teams – entered the tour with Yamamoto the top pitcher on the market. He’s not an icon on the level of Ohtani, but for Major League teams interested in pitching beyond North America, Yamamoto carries some of the same international appeal. And, like Ohtani, only the deepest pockets will get a shot. Teams around Ohtani’s pursuit, such as the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox, seem to have struggled after Yamamoto’s absence this entire time, and may now face double competition from teams that signed for Ohtani.
2. Cody Bellinger
Otani had limitations. He likely won’t be able to hit next season due to elbow surgery, so he’ll be very limited at shortstop. . The best free agent player of all time has always been Bellinger, who can play center field, just won his second Silver Slugger, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting. He went through a huge comeback season just in time to hit the open market as a 28-year-old. For any team that needs to juice up its lineup without Ohtani, Bellinger is the best bet on the open market.
3. JD Martinez
Aside from Ohtani, Martinez is the best, most proven hitter on the free agent market. And now that teams with a chance to add a full-time DH — Blue Jays, Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Mets, Rangers — have missed out on Ohtani, they can switch to the rest of the market, which including the 36-year-old Martinez who came off a 134 OPS+ and another All-Star selection with the Dodgers last season. For teams in need of a DH who can also help out in the field, the market is wide open.
4. Other designated players
The modern roster values talent, and while every team currently has a draft pick, very few hire a DH. can do just that. So, for those teams in the market for a bat, but want a DH that can do a little more, it’s time to sort out the rest of Ohtani.
• Rhys Hoskins – For teams that are betting back after injuries are also getting prime game time.
• Mitch Garver – For those teams that could use some help catching and like a guy who won the World Series.
• Jorge Soler – For teams that like 30-homer pop and the ability to occasionally play in the outer corners. See also: Teoscar Hernández.
• Justin Turner — For teams that need an occasional corner outfielder but mostly want a DH he, at 39, can still hit. and replace a clubhouse.
• Brandon Belt — For teams that specifically need a left-handed hitter (like Ohtani), Belt is a 36-year-old soon-to-be who had an .890 OPS against righties last season.
5. Blake Snell
There’s no bigger offseason addition than Ohtani, and for teams that seem to be (or should be) in the market for star power – we’re looking at you. Giants, Red Sox, Cardinals, Cubs and Yankees – the National League Cy. The young man will certainly move the needle. Snell is a rare two-time Cy Young winner, but in the only seasons he has hit 130 in the big leagues. And even in those years he threw only 180 and 180 2/3. He’s not a power hitter, but when healthy, he’s a 31-year-old with a 3.20 career ERA and enough strikeouts to match his high walks. Snell is one of the few guaranteed free agents still available.
6-7. Shota Imanaga, Jung Hoo Lee
In some cases, it’s absurd – even stupid – to suggest that being from the same part of the world makes players like Imanaga (a Japanese pitcher) and Lee (a Korean outside) are suitable routes to Ohtani. But the truth is, some teams study Japanese and Korean more strongly than others. Some teams are more comfortable making the jump from the NPB or KBO to Major League Baseball. And some teams are better positioned to capitalize on such an international connection (think of the Mariners’ record with Japanese sports, or the Yankees’ international brand, or the Red Sox’s mix of the two). It’s not hard to imagine a team that was starting to fear Ohtani a decade ago being recently enlivened by Imanaga or Lee.
8. Matt Chapman
Because Ohtani is such a unique player, it’s almost impossible to meet someone like him. Losing teams may have to go in a completely different direction. Not every team, for example, will have a third chance for Chapman, but some will, and that’s the interesting thing about Ohtani’s impact finally coming off the board. . As the teams continued to search for more, we could see them dispersing in many different directions. Some may try to bolster their upside, some may try to add offense through the outfield, and some may simply pursue the potential free-agent infielder. on the market. Ohtani and Chapman are very different, but for some teams, Chapman may be the most logical plan. For the Blue Jays in particular, bringing back Chapman might be the right move after losing out on Ohtani and seeing third-round pick Jeimer Candelario head to Cincinnati.
Again, Ohtani is a unique player, and I’m into his free agency from any number of angles. Some especially need a car. Some liked the idea of putting him through the transition next year. Some just want to be good and chase a champion. As Ohtani’s pursuers change course and begin to look for other ways to improve, the trade market could take off. The major trade ship (Soto) has been moved up, but there are still some legendary pitchers believed to be available, and some competitive pitchers. a – Jonathan India, maybe? – could end up fitting if a replacement for Ohtani decides to spend elsewhere and take a lower upgrade at DH.
(Top photo of Bellinger: AP Photo/Matt York)