“With Ohtani on the roster, the Boston Red Sox would instantly become a playoff contender,” Sports Illustrated reported on Wednesday.
Boston is in fourth place in the American League East this season. The first-place Tampa Bay Rays, second-place Baltimore Orioles, and third-place 메이저사이트 New York Yankees are all formidable opponents.
But with Ohtani, who could be a huge boost to the starting lineup and offense, Boston could be a different story. “Ohtani is an impending free agent,” the outlet said, “and could be dealt at the trade deadline.”
Ohtani is eligible for free agency at the end of this season. If the Angels’ chances of making the playoffs fall before then, he could be traded. If he does become a free agent, his asking price is expected to be in excess of $500 million.
A 10-year contract has also been speculated. Boston is not the only team reportedly in the running for Ohtani, as the Los Angeles Dodgers are also in the mix.
“One expert believes that Boston is a likely destination for Ohtani this summer,” the media outlet said.
Ohtani is 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 10 appearances as a pitcher this season. As a hitter, he is batting .530 with 11 home runs, 32 RBIs and a .358 on-base percentage in 47 games.
Both as a pitcher and a hitter, Ota could be a valuable addition to a team’s lineup. He is estimated to be worth at least $500 million over 10 years.