With Shohei Ohtani approaching free agency, he is the most sought-after star in MLB. Though there is no specific decision taken by the two-way-phenom yet, there are a myriad of possibilities. He might end up resetting the market with his $500 million or more contract. Amidst all speculations, one, in particular, has surfaced inclining toward what makes more sense. 

When the once-in-a-lifetime talent roams free, his decision becomes more crucial than ever. With the ball in Ohtani’s court, one of those possibilities inclines toward a particular east-coast team. And the reason behind this speculation is by far the most logical. 

Is Tampa Bay Ray’s pocket deep enough to accommodate Shohei Ohtani?

There are three aspects to consider. Ohtani’s recovery period from his elbow injury, hitting (not pitching) requirement, and team’s affordability. Factoring all these in, one team name stands out, Tampa Bay Rays. But what does Ohtani want? Well, industry chatter says that the 29-year-old had a look at the player-development resource and identified a lucrative opportunity. @RealPaulRoss took to Twitter to elaborate on this possibility with a caption, “Shohei Ohtani is going to love Burger’s Priest”.

https://x.com/RealPaulRoss/status/1710833144276877785?s=20

While earlier, Ohtani was dicey about moving to the East Coast the likelihood of adding another country to his primary fanbase seems like a decision that will go a long way. With that in perspective, the Tampa Bay Rays would be an appealing opportunity. However, do the Rays have deep pockets?

Early this July, Tampabay.com reported, “Forget the $10 million or so he will cost in salary for the remainder of 2023, the greater cost is in the players it will take to acquire him at the deadline. He is the ultimate all-in bet for a single shot at the World Series”. With that kind of damage, will the Rays be able to fulfill Ohtani’s desire for an increased fan base? 

Rays’ risk-taking history

The Rays are not the ones to shy away from taking risks. History is proof since this is not the first time they are on the verge of making a course-changing decision. They had once traded Blake Snell just a month after starting Game 6 of the World Series. While they gave up Joe Ryan in exchange for Nelson Cruz on a short-term rental, they traded Austin Meadows coming off a 106-RBI season.

With that, it is safe to share what the owner of Tampa Bay Ray thinks. He believes, “It’s OK if you miss and break a few windows, just don’t burn down the building”.

While the speculations are still afloat, and Ohtani and the team have not released any details on his recovery, one thing is clear. This acquisition will be one blockbuster of a deal. 

Watch this story: Unveiling the Driving Force Behind Shohei Ohtani’s Success – Meet Coach Toru Ohtani, the Mastermind Behind the Rising Star.