New York-based Japanese baseball writer Eriko Takehama has hinted that Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani could consider joining the New York Yankees if he reaches free agency this year.
“I think the mentality that Shohei has, that he wants to win, matches with how Yankees fans also want to win,” Takehama told Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “They want to win the World Series and that’s the one thing Shohei really wants.”
On Tuesday, Ohtani said through his interpreter that Yankee Stadium is “a beautiful field with passionate fans” and that he has “had some really fun times” at the venue. Takehama noted that Ohtani took “his first outdoor round of” batting practice this season in the Bronx ahead of Tuesday’s game between the Angels and Yankees.
“I think that he was trying to send some message,” Takehama explained. “The fact that he actually talked to the media after a game as well, which was extremely rare. I think he has a little something in his head about New York. I think he’s thinking about it.”
Yankees captain Aaron Judge has unofficially begun his recruitment of Ohtani. Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com and Greg Joyce of the New York Post suggested earlier this week that the Yankees could attempt to acquire the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player before this summer’s trade deadline, and ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported Thursday morning that Ohtani could be made available to other clubs over the next few months.
Ohtani remains on track to hit free agency after the season and could earn more than $600M in guaranteed money via his next contract. He’s repeatedly been linked in rumors with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, and Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote last week that the 28-year-old may be more open to playing in the Big Apple now than he was five years ago.
“Obviously New York fans would definitely love it,” former Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda said Wednesday about Ohtani potentially featuring for the Bronx Bombers, per Miller. “I think the fans would love it and I think Shohei himself would love it as well.”
