Shohei Ohtani will be looking for a payout this off season. The two-way superstar is coming off another MVP winning year with 44 HR, 1.066 OPS, 95 RBI, and a .304 batting average. Ohtani is looking to get a record-breaking contract. The contract will most likely look like 8–10 years for $500-750 million.
Although, it wouldn't be surprising if he got a shorter contract, considering he just had elbow surgery for the second time. Meaning, he will not pitch in the 2024 season; only hit. He will be able to pitch again in 2025, but General Managers have their concerns on whether he will still be able to pitch and hit like he has been for the past three seasons. With these concerns, this could bring his value down a bit.
Every team in the league would give everything for Ohtani. But there are a few teams that are the likely candidates. The top suitors right now include the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, and the LA Angels. These Clubs by far have the most money to put on the board or are aggressive in contract talks.
As an Angels fan myself, it is hard to say that the chances of Ohtani coming back to Anaheim are very slim. Considering they are already paying for the largest contract in MLB history, that is Mike Trout's 12-year-$426,500,000 and Anthony Rendon's 7-year-$245,000,000 contract, Angels’ owner Arte Moreno is penny-pinching. My prediction is that Shohei Ohtani will sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. There have been rumors that the Blue Jays have been very aggressive in pursuing Ohtani. It also just seems like a good fit for him there. It’s a very young and fun team with players Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, and Kevin Gausman.
