Dodgers Rumors: MLB Analyst Thinks LA is Perfectly Set Up to Make a Run at Shohei Ohtani
With the Dodgers season ending much sooner than expected, the focus now shifts over to the offseason. Within the offseason, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is will the team land Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
It’s no secret that the Dodgers have been planning to go after him for some time now, and finally, their chance has come. He is the biggest show in the game today, and he would give LA a much-needed jolt.
Despite him not pitching in 2024 due to a torn UCL that he had surgery to repair, Ohtani still brings his incredible bat to the table. Former MLB General Manager Dan O’Dowd believes that the Dodgers are set up perfectly to land Ohtani this winter.
“From the payroll standpoint, now they have young starters. And then I’m sure they need to add to that, they need to add another impact starter. But now to go out and add a guy to Ohtani, it just, because they got it all set up elsewhere in the lineup to put him in the middle of it and take that next step of where they can go.”
Per Dan O’Dowd via MLB Now
O’Dowd makes a good point here since LA does have a ton of young pitchers who don’t take up a ton of the payroll. The Dodgers could afford to not have Ohtani pitching next season, and still find success on the field.
They could go out to sign another starter or two to fill out the rotation, and they would be fine. It’s a luxury that LA has, which other teams may not since the superstar won’t take the mound in 2024.
The team will be getting Walker Buehler back into the mix next season, and both Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepiot should be in the rotation as well. If the Dodgers can go out to get one frontline guy and another backup starter, their rotation could be set up well.
Ohtani would give them a strong bat for next season, and then he could return to his two-way abilities after that. But his star power alone is worth signing him, and the Dodgers make all the sense in the world.
Of course, it takes two to tango, but you’d have to think that Ohtani has some interest in joining LA. He has seen them reach the postseason year after year, and he could be the missing piece to get them over the hump.
The Ohtani sweepstakes will certainly be something to watch, and the Dodgers remain one of the frontrunners for his services.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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