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3 agonizing free agent destinations Shohei Ohtani could choose that would haunt Angels fans
Some destinations are better than others.
In all likelihood, Shohei Ohtani has played his last game with the Los Angeles Angels. He's hit free agency and barring a major shift, has plenty more intriguing options out there.
It is well documented that Ohtani wants to win, and his chances of doing that in Anaheim are nowhere near as great as virtually anywhere else. The Angels didn't finish with a winning record once with him here and haven't done so since 2015.
It would not be wise to completely rule the Angels out of the Ohtani sweepstakes, but to say they're anywhere near the favorites would also be unwise. Angels fans need to begin preparing the possibility of envisioning Shohei in another uniform. Some would be easy to get used to while others would be crushing.
1) Angels fans would be devastated if Shohei Ohtani signed with the Rangers
I mean, they just won the World Series for crying out loud! The Texas Rangers won their first World Series title in franchise history and could look to be even better in 2024. They've been listed as one of the favorites by Jon Heyman of the NY Post, and that'd present major issues.
The Rangers led the American League in runs scored this past season without Shohei Ohtani. Can you imagine the team replacing the likes of Mitch Garver and Robbie Grossman at DH with the best player in the game? How exactly do you stop that offense? The opposing starting pitcher would likely see Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Shohei Ohtani. Wow.
Angels fans wouldn't care if the Rangers were some juggernaut in the National League or even outside of the division, but the Rangers reside in the AL West! The Angels have to see them 13 times every year. You already know Ohtani would just put up monster numbers every time he got to face his former team.
Whether the Rangers will sign Ohtani remains to be seen after they've spent as much money as they've had in free agency in recent years. Let's hope they opt to be a bit more conservative.
2) Angels fans would be devastated if Shohei Ohtani signed with the Mariners
The Rangers winning the World Series means the Seattle Mariners are the only team in the AL West without a title. Signing Shohei Ohtani would drastically improve their odds of changing that.
The last couple of years while Seattle has been relevant, they've lacked some offensive firepower. Julio Rodriguez is, of course, one of the best players in the game, but outside of Rodriguez there isn't much there. Players like Cal Raleigh, Eugenio Suarez, and J.P. Crawford are solid, but they're not game changers. Even Teoscar Hernandez who I'd argue was the second-most formidible hitter in Seattle's lineup last season is a free agent.
If the Mariners sign Ohtani, they add that middle of the order bat Seattle desperately needs. Hitting Rodriguez in front of Ohtani ensures that he'll see pitches to hit, and can wreck havoc on the base paths while Ohtani is at the dish.
The Mariners have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball and would be just fine without Ohtani pitching in 2024. When he returns to pitching in 2025, they can easily insert him at the top and make their staff just that much better. They'd have the quality six-man rotation Angels fans always dreamed of having.
I don't know whether Seattle will go to the lengths other teams will financially, but they're another team many insiders believe have a legitimate shot at bringing him aboard. The fact that this 88-win team in the AL West can get significantly better is, of course, not ideal for the Angels.
3) Angels fans would be devastated if Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers
Look. Ohtani signing with the Dodgers is not nearly as bad as him joining an AL West team that isn't the Angels. The Halos would only face him four times per season, and the Dodgers record has no impact on the Angels standing whatsoever unless the two would meet in the World Series.
It's the lesser of three evils would be the Dodgers, but watching Ohtani sign with the team virtually everyone wants him to go to and win in the city where he couldn't as an Angel would be really difficult to watch.
The Dodgers are a team that consistently makes the playoffs but outside of the 2020 year when the World Series was played at a neutral site, has failed to come through and win it all. The only time they've won in recent memory is in a 60-game season. Ohtani could be the player that finally puts them over the top.
Having Shohei go to teams that have absolutely nothing to do with the Angels like the Cubs, Giants, or Mets feel like locations that'd be much easier to digest than the Dodgers who Angels fans have some sort of connection to. The worst part is fans should really start picturing it now, as the Dodgers are the very clear favorites to land him.
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