Predicting where top 2023 MLB free agents will sign with Machado off board
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (Picture by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photographs)
The 2023-2024 free-agent class stays sturdy regardless of Manny Machado staying in San Diego. Where would possibly the top gamers sign subsequent winter?
Regardless of Manny Machado re-signing with the San Diego Padres on an 11-year, $350 million contract, the 2023-2024 free-agent market stays sturdy, and is headlined by two-way celebrity Shohei Ohtani.
All eyes will be on Ohtani, after all, as he will doubtless be the primary participant signed to a contract in extra of $500 million in American Sports activities historical past. However the free-agent market options extra than simply Ohtani. The top bats out there embody Teoscar Hernandez and Matt Chapman whereas the pitching market is loaded with choices that embody Max Scherzer, Julio Urias, Jack Flaherty, Lucas Giolito, Blake Snell, Luis Severino and Sonny Grey.
Where would possibly these gamers sign? Right here’s an early have a look at where 4 of the top free agents would possibly sign.
Predicting where the top 2023 MLB free agents will sign
Shohei Ohtani
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
Everybody in baseball is questioning where Shohei Ohtani will play in 2024. The reality is, nobody is aware of. Not even Ohtani.
What we do know is that there will be huge curiosity in Ohtani, together with from the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Even the San Diego Padres, who simply signed Manny Machado to an extension and nonetheless want to increase Juan Soto, are anticipated to be gamers within the Ohtani sweepstakes.
However the staff to observe is the Dodgers, who have been comparatively inactive all through this offseason, as many anticipate that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is eyeing a serious run at Ohtani.
In 5 seasons, he’s hit .267/.354/.532 with 127 house runs and an .886 OPS. He’s posted a 2.96 ERA and 441/118 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 349.2 innings. He’s mainly Matt Olson and Max Scherzer mixed. The Dodgers’ roster is already loaded. Simply think about it with Ohtani.
That’s what the Dodgers are hoping for.
