The Atlanta Braves have watched two of their free-agent targets come off the market, Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray. Believe it or not, this has led to more discussion of the Braves potentially signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. MLB Insider Steve Phillips believes this is a real possibility.
Is Atlanta a realistic landing spot for Shohei Ohtani? 📍@StevePhillipsGM | #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/QbmxSBJ78I
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 27, 2023
This argument actually makes a lot of sense. Even though the Braves were not listed in the top potential landing spots of Ohtani entering the off-season, they could slowly be sneaking into the mix.
It was believed that staying on the West Coast closer to home was a top priority for Ohtani. As time goes on, it seems that may not be as important, giving teams like the Braves and Cubs a realistic chance of signing the once-in-a-generation talent.
Rather than just being close to home, going to a team that can compete for a World Series title seems to be essential to Shohei Ohtani. Who else is better set up to compete in the coming years than the Atlanta Braves who have won six straight division titles and show no signs of slowing down?
Finally, Max Fried is entering the last season of his current contract. As things currently stand, it seems unlikely that the Braves will retain Fried once he hits the free-agent market. If this is the case, that would be a huge loss for the Braves starting rotation come 2025. Shohei Ohtani could be the solution to that hypothetical problem.
Shohei Ohtani will not be able to pitch next season but is set to return to a big league mound in 2025. If Anthopoulos is able to pull off some magic, Ohtani could serve as the DH for the Braves in 2024 and then go back to being a two-way superstar the following year.
Putting Ohtani in the DH position next season would also mean that Atlanta would have to do something with Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna has some experience in left field which is a hole the Braves need to fill but his defense has become a liability. Now that Ozuna’s contract now has a light at the end of the tunnel and he hit 40 home runs last season, AA could possibly talk another club into accepting a trade for Ozuna.
Make no mistake about it, the chances of Shohei Ohtani playing for the Atlanta Braves remain insanely low. However, the longer Ohtani goes without signing with another team, the more intriguing the Braves may seem and be in the position to extend an inviting offer.
Although, don't expect to hear any news until after a decision is made. Both Ohtani and the Braves like to keep things under wraps until they are ready for news to be released.