The Dodgers were anointed the early favorites here to sign two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani for obvious reasons: 1) They are baseball’s most consistent winners, 2) They are geographically desirable, and 3) They can afford a $500 million price tag.
Indeed, the Dodgers are still planning to pursue the great Ohtani, and should still be considered one of the favorites for the above reasons, but two questions are arising. One probably is worth considering, the other probably falls into the silly rumor category.
While the Dodgers somehow have been amazingly consistent winners — they’ve won the NL West 10 of 11 years, and they won 106 games in the season they finished second — their rotation is so riddled with questions that word is they will be “very focused” on starters this winter. Though Ohtani’s surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, painted an overall optimistic picture after elbow surgery, the two-way star will only be a hitter, or in 2024 at least. The belief now is the Dodgers are “not quite as clean a fit” as before.
The other potential issue may not have much validity, but even Dodgers people have heard speculation Ohtani doesn’t love hitting at Dodger Stadium. That seems strange, as Dodger Stadium plays straight up and along with Angel Stadium carries the obvious weather advantage (plus Ohtani’s career 1.149 OPS there belies any concern).
One person theorized it might have more to do with the Dodgers’ excellent pitching over the past six seasons (even this year, with all their many issues, they are among the second-half ERA leaders).
The Dodgers pared back many millions last winter to make payroll space for Ohtani, but still hit on pickups J.D. Martinez, David Peralta, Miguel Rojas and Jason Heyward. Heyward stunningly has the highest OPS of his career (.848), and no surprise, he has been “the best” clubhouse presence.
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