Is Shohei Ohtani the Missing Piece for the Dodgers in 2023-2024?
The Dodgers face a major decision this offseason as they weigh the possibility of signing Shohei Ohtani, but is he the answer to their postseason woes?
The 2023-2024 offseason brought the Los Angeles Dodgers face-to-face with a monumental decision – whether to sign the two-time AL MVP, Shohei Ohtani. Speculations had swirled for over a year, linking the superstar to the Dodgers, and now, as the offseason unfolds, the question looms large: Can Ohtani be the missing piece that the Dodgers need to reclaim their championship glory?
Key Takeaways:
- Despite Shohei Ohtani’s undeniable talent and status as one of baseball’s best hitters, the Dodgers’ biggest offseason priority remains starting pitching, especially with Ohtani focusing solely on hitting in the 2024 season.
- The Dodgers had a successful designated hitter in J.D. Martinez during the previous season, who came at a reasonable price of $10 million. Signing Ohtani would considerably increase their payroll, potentially limiting their ability to acquire much-needed pitching and additional batting power.
- Ohtani’s offensive prowess makes him an enticing prospect for the Dodgers, potentially addressing the issues that plagued their postseason performance. However, securing Ohtani might require additional financial commitments for the front office.
The offseason buzz surrounding Shohei Ohtani has kept fans and analysts alike on the edge of their seats. The notion of Ohtani donning the Dodger blue and stepping into the batter’s box at Chavez Ravine has sparked excitement, but it also raises questions about the team’s overall strategy.
MLB insider Alden Gonzalez weighed in on the Dodgers’ outlook for this pivotal offseason. He concurred with the sentiment that Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly an enticing addition but suggested that the team’s most pressing need is starting pitching. With Ohtani set to focus exclusively on hitting in 2024, the Dodgers would be diverting a substantial portion of their budget towards a position that they’ve already successfully filled in the past.
The Dodgers enjoyed the services of J.D. Martinez as their designated hitter in the previous season, and his $10 million price tag was a bargain considering his contributions. However, Ohtani’s potential acquisition would significantly raise the team’s payroll, making it challenging to allocate resources for strengthening the pitching rotation and bolstering the lineup further.
Biggest offseason priority: You could have probably guessed this answer — it’s Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers are expected to be among the most aggressive suitors, if not the most aggressive suitor, for the generational two-way player. But there’s an important caveat here: Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024. And because he will be coming off his second Tommy John surgery — or some version of it, given the vague nature of the initial description — there are legitimate concerns about how long he’ll continue to hold up as a two-way player. The Dodgers, as we’ve seen in these playoffs, desperately need starting pitching. In other words, Ohtani won’t be enough.
The postseason disappointment still lingers in the minds of Dodgers fans after a surprising sweep by the Diamondbacks in the NLDS. Bringing Shohei Ohtani to Los Angeles could serve as a thrilling apology to the devoted fan base. However, this move would likely come with a hefty price tag, necessitating substantial investments in pitching and potentially another bat to round out the roster.
During a recent discussion on Foul Territory Live, I shared a similar sentiment regarding Ohtani’s potential impact on the Dodgers. In a nutshell, Ohtani is undoubtedly a remarkable player, and the Dodgers have been positioning themselves for a significant pursuit. However, he may not be the sole solution to the team’s needs. Nonetheless, the opportunity to acquire arguably the best player in baseball history, even with financial considerations and a compensatory draft pick, might be too enticing to pass up. The Dodgers’ path to the championship might hinge on making the bold move to secure Ohtani’s services.
