With Shohei Ohtani blasting home runs in the Bronx on Tuesday night, many fans wondered if the two-way superstar would soon be making New York his home.
Likely not with the Yankees, but the rival Mets have been rumored to be hot on Ohtani, who could be dealt before the trade deadline if the Angels are out of the playoff race, or signing with another team as a free agent this winter.
Sal Licata doesn’t pretend to know where Ohtani prefers to end up, but he can say one thing with confidence: if Ohtani wants the biggest payday, it’s going to come from Steve Cohen and the Mets.
“I don’t know where Ohtani is gonna go, but I do know that Steve Cohen will have the best offer. He is not going to be outbid,” Sal said. “How is Steve Cohen going to be outbid? I just don’t see it.
“The Mets may not end up with Ohtani, but I would be stunned if they are not the highest bidder. Maybe Ohtani ends up with the Yankees. Maybe he wants to come to the east coast but wants to put on the pinstripes. Who knows? That can be the case too. But I don’t think the Yankees, or the Dodgers, or anybody else, is going to have a higher bid than Steve Cohen.”
Ohtani could become the league’s first $500 million player given his level of play on the mound and at the plate. The 2021 MVP, seen as the only competition for the award last year with Aaron Judge, could be on his way to reclaiming that honor, and if he continues on this trend, he will command a historic contract.
That would be Cohen’s, the richest owner in baseball, time to shine.
“This is the one thing Steve Cohen control,” Sal said. “He can control how much he offers Shohei Ohtani.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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