Shohei Ohtani News: Agent Confirms Dodgers Target Will Need Surgery, Won’t Impact Ability to DH in 2024
As we get closer to the offseason, the watch on Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani will begin. It has been rumored for quite a while now that the Dodgers were planning to make an aggressive run to land the two-way player this winter.
Even with his recently suffered torn UCL, LA still is likely to make a run at him. But it does throw some questions into the equation.
It’s not completely known what Ohtani will do or how the injury will affect him for next season, but we got a little more clarity on Monday from his agent, Nez Balelo. He will have some type of surgery to deal with the injury, but even if he does, he will still be hitting next season in “somebody’s” lineup.
I found that wordage that was used to be the most interesting part here. Maybe I’m looking too much into this, but Ohtani’s agent could have just said that he would be hitting next season.
Most believe that he will leave the Halos when given the chance this winter, and if history is any indication, it will happen. He wants to win, and the Angels haven’t proven to him that they can do that in the multiple years that he has been with their organization.
Either way, it seems that Ohtani will at least give whatever team he signs with an All-Star-level hitter for the 2024 season. After that, he is hopeful to return to his two-way abilities, which is what teams are going to be throwing big money at him to do.
Ohtani was expected to become the first $500 million man in baseball history, and he could still easily become that. It just takes one team to decide that he is worth that, especially if he signs a long-term deal and doesn’t pitch for just one season.
This entire situation is a little cloudy with the injury, but Ohtani may be the outlier here. We’ve never seen a player do what he has done on a baseball field, so if anyone can come back from a second Tommy John Surgery to dominate, it’s him.
The Dodgers should still go after him even with the injury. His marketability alone will help them pay back whatever amount of money they would pay him this offseason. He is the biggest star in baseball and deserves to be playing on the biggest stage that the league has to offer.
Photo Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
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I don’t care if Sho’s worse than Gallo and Synderguard combined here…. He’s worth the dang gamble! He’ll be in the HOF one year; do we want him wearing an Astros uniform with 5 rings or SD, Met’s ( bad as Met’s are, they’re never far away from a ring!) And or M’s or cubbies?
If not LAD, I HOPE HOPE HOPE, Seattle! They deserve a Ring! That 2001 team was Lit! If Randy Johnson would’ve stayed, they’d won , and maybe 1 or 2 more!!?
Anyways, Boras has all the good FA’s, + Urais is NOT coming back either way. Belli shouldn’t and wouldn’t come back.
and Sho will pitch again spring training 2025. It’s just how much money will come off that – 425-510 million contract?
Does Othani require surgery?
Is Dodgers willing take a calculated
risk? A DH is one of the nine batters
and is not always next at bat with
runners on base.
Dodgers has a very productive
minor league. Give them a chance
to prove themselve in MLB