Shohei Ohtani hits a double at Fenway Park Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox could be 'real threat' to sign Shohei Ohtani

By David Korn | Last updated 10/5/23

Despite being in the thick of the postseason, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's impending free agency is still one of the biggest stories in baseball.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that a rival executive believes that the Boston Red Sox are a "real threat" to sign Ohtani this offseason.

Heyman cited Ohtani's sponsorship deal with Boston-based New Balance as a driving force behind Ohtani's potential desire to play for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox are also primed to spend this offseason. They moved on from chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom partially because of his unwillingness to sign big-name free agents to long term deals and after three last-place finishes in the past four seasons, there is growing pressure within the organization to make win-now moves.

Heyman is not the first person to report on a potential link between Ohtani and the Red Sox. Longtime sportswriter Peter Gammons reported in mid-September that a National League executive believed Ohtani was interested, also noting the New Balance connection.

N.L. Executive long familiar with Shonei Ohtani believes he is interested in Boston, partly because of his relationship with New Balance CEO Jim Davis.Bosox problem:Masataka Yoshida has to DH, Ohtani off TJ must DH, Sox $ mostly going to pitching.
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) September 15, 2023

As Gammons mentions, Ohtani does not exactly match up with how some people think the Red Sox should spend their money this offseason. Boston's first priority should be pitching and it is unlikely that Ohtani will be able to pitch until 2025 after tearing the UCL in his pitching elbow.

Gammons also notes that there might be some positional overlap at designated hitter with Masataka Yoshida. Even though Yoshida was bottom-10 in the Majors in outs above average and would most likely benefit from becoming a full-time DH, it would be an easy decision to keep him in left field if it meant signing Ohtani.

Ohtani was the best hitter in baseball this past season and when healthy, has Cy Young potential on the mound. Even though he is injured and unable to pitch for at least one season, he should still command a contract close to 10 years, $500 million.

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