(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes haven’t officially started, but that doesn’t matter: there are already lots of rumors of all kinds linking him to a number of teams.
In recent hours, MLB insider Buster Olney said the New York Yankees could make a play for him should he be made available before the deadline.
Now, CBS analyst Adam Schein said something that will surely excite Seattle Mariners fans.
“The Seattle Mariners are firmly and officially in play for the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes,” CBS Sports Network tweeted, with Schein’s big quote.
“The Seattle Mariners are firmly and officially in play for the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.” @AdamSchein pic.twitter.com/oLdoW7fSYe
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) July 12, 2023
The M’s are one of the best up-and-coming forces in a tough AL West.
At the moment, they are 45-44, six games behind first place in the division.
They arrived last year, in fact, making the playoffs and even winning a series on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays.
This year, they have found even better competition in the AL West, but they are still in the race.
Adding Ohtani, whether it is via trade or when he hits the market after the season, would be a huge boost for the franchise and would take it from playoff hopefuls to World Series contenders.
Ohtani, after all, has a 1.050 OPS and 32 homers as a hitter and a 3.32 ERA as a pitcher.
In the middle of the All-Star Game festivities, he said he loves Seattle and has spent offseasons there.
That’s huge for Seattle’s chances.
This is a city and a franchise with a rich history of Japanese stars.
Will Ohtani be next?
The post MLB Analyst Connects The Mariners To Shohei Ohtani appeared first on The Cold Wire.