Shohei Ohtani, the biggest superstar on the free agent market, could end up signing with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason.
The Toronto Blue Jays are emerging as a “surprise entrant” in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman reported Thursday.
Sources told Heyman that while Ohtani may or may not have a visit planned to Toronto, he has enjoyed when his Los Angeles Angels have played north of the border in the past. Heyman also reported that shortstop Bo Bichette and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could hit the trade block if Ohtani signs with the Blue Jays, although it remains unlikely that either All-Star gets moved.
Ohtani is in line for a record-breaking contract this winter, given the free agent’s prowess as both a hitter and pitcher. While Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024 due to the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October, he is expected to return to the mound in 2025 and beyond.
The Blue Jays would make for an interesting landing spot for Ohtani, whose Angels teams have long flown under the radar due to missing the playoffs nine years in a row. Heyman, however, reported that Ohtani may, in fact, like the “relatively low-key environment” in Toronto. The Blue Jays have also made the postseason in back-to-back years and five times since 2015.
Toronto additionally faces the unique roadblock of high local taxes. Income taxes are much steeper in Canada than they are in the United States, especially compared to states without state income taxes.
A $300 million contract with the Texas Rangers would go further than one with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Seattle Mariners, but any of them would result in far more cash for Ohtani than he could get in an equal deal with the Blue Jays.
Ohtani won his second American League MVP in three years this season. Despite missing almost all of September, Ohtani still led the league with 44 home runs, a 10.0 WAR and a 1.066 OPS on top of his 95 RBI, 20 stolen bases and .304 batting average. Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.061 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings across 23 starts as well.
For his career, the 29-year-old Ohtani owns a .922 OPS and 3.01 ERA.
Ohtani is the consensus top free agent available to teams heading into 2024, and his decision will surely influence how the rest of the offseason plays out across the league.
