Making an aggressive swing for Shohei Ohtani would make this New York Mets offseason an electrifying one, to say the least.
For some time now, there has been speculation surrounding the versatile star. It came mostly as a result of the struggles had by the Los Angeles Angles, along with Ohtani being due for a big payday.
The talk surrounding his unknown future with the Angles heated up following some recent noncommittal statements he made.
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Could MLB star Shohei Ohtani be on the move?
While recently speaking on his own year personally as well as the play of his team, Ohtani said this.
On his own play, “a good season for me personally.” Then on the Angels, “I have to say that August and September in particular felt longer to me than last year. We were not able to play as many good games as we would like — including 14 consecutive losses. So I have a rather negative impression of this season.”
Certainly, some comments that can lead one to believe he could be had in a blockbuster-type of a deal.
What makes Ohtani so valuable is fairly obvious. He is a dominant, elite-level starting pitcher who also happens to have a .267 career batting average with loads of power in his bat.
Starting with his bat, Ohtani hit .285 in 2018 and then .286 in 2019. He hit 46 home runs and had 100 RBIs in 2021. In 2022, Ohtani batted .273 while hitting 34 homers and driving in 95 runs.
On the mound, he has a career earned run average of 2.96 in 63 starts. Over the last two years, his dominance as a starting pitcher has taken off. He went 9-2 in 23 starts in 2021. This last season, he recorded a career-best in starts with 28, wins with 15 (tied for eighth in MLB), an ERA of 2.33, and strikeouts with 219, both of which were sixth-best in baseball. He recorded all of this dominance despite being 42nd in innings pitched across baseball.
Lastly, in 2022, Ohtani finished in 12th with his WHIP of 1.01, and his batting average against of .203 was 10th-best in the league.
Youth is another enticing factor with the star player. He is 28 and turns 29 years old next summer. Obviously, these factors make him that much more expensive if the Mets were to explore a trade for Ohtani seriously.
Ultimately, either keeping the star power the Mets have in-house with Jacob deGrom, making a free agent move for Aaron Judge, or trading for Ohtani, the Mets need to have premier players.
It is uncertain at this time, but if the Angels are okay with dealing Ohtani, it would be wise of the Mets to enter trade talks.