The San Francisco Giants have expressed their strong interest in Shohei Ohtani as they await his free agency decision.
Ohtani has previously mentioned the Giants, Dodgers, and Cubs as potential landing spots, but the absence of the designated hitter role made it unrealistic at the time. However, with the universal DH now gone, the Giants believe they have a better chance at signing him.
“I know that the Giants, (Los Angeles) Dodgers, and (Chicago) Cubs were all high on Shohei’s list when he first signed, but without the (universal) DH then, it just wasn’t realistic,” All-Star righty Alex Cobb said Tuesday, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Now that that’s gone, I think he wants to be in a place that is a big market and can sustain winning for a long time … and San Francisco has a big Japanese population.
“I absolutely could see that as the very possible outcome if we back the truck up enough.”
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Giants pitcher Alex Cobb believes Ohtani wants to join a big market team that can sustain long-term success, and San Francisco’s large Japanese population may be appealing to him. Both Cobb and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford highlighted the team’s successful history, including three World Series championships in the past 15 years, as a strong selling point.
“In the past 15 years, we’ve won the World Series three times, that’s a good place to start,” the three-time All-Star shortstop said. “This team has a history of trying to do what it takes to win. I’ve heard he wants to win, and for someone like him, who’s done everything else, the World Series will be the main thing.”
Ohtani will be a free agent for the first time after a six-year tenure with the Los Angeles Angels. It is expected that the Angels will extend a qualifying offer to Ohtani, but retaining his services may prove difficult due to the team’s lack of playoff success in recent years.
Ohtani’s impressive performance as both a hitter and a pitcher this season has solidified his position as a top contender for the AL MVP award.
The Giants faced off against Ohtani and the Angels in a three-game series, with the Angels winning the second game and Ohtani set to pitch in the rubber match on Wednesday.
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