Why Giants MUST blow the bank for Shohei Ohtani
With MLB free agency underway, we explain why the Giants must go all in this offseason and sign superstar Shohei Ohtani
San Francisco Giants baseball is typically synonymous with good pitching and sound defense. That was not entirely the case in 2023, however. The team ranked 11th in ERA, but did itself no favors with an MLB-leading 117 errors. A bottom-tier offense exacerbated their identity crisis. And yet, San Fran was above .500 and still in the hunt for a postseason berth in mid-September.
Admittedly, a late collapse and 79-83 final record tarnishes that positive outlook quite a bit, but the point remains. With limited star power, a largely unreliable offense and uneven defense, the Giants were still only five games removed from the third National League Wild Card slot. There are two ways to interpret their situation.
They can be patient and hope that their young position players come of age, or the organization can trust that it is only one superstar away from playing October baseball. Ownership should opt for the second, bolder path, especially because the aforementioned superstar can have a transcendent impact on the franchise and fan base.
Every big-market team should have Shohei Ohtani firmly on its radar, but we are going to explain why the Giants must be the one to blow the bank on this one-of-a-kind talent in MLB free agency.
Shohei Ohtani can bring everything together for the Giants
There are two factors believed to be the primary motivation for the 29-year-old dual threat, aside from a record-breaking contract. Ohtani wants to make the playoffs, and he might be inclined to stay on the West Coast. My basic geography knowledge tells me that San Fran checks off the second box, but would the roster be well-rounded enough to stand out in a crowded NL that is only getting more competitive?
If the Giants sign Ohtani this offseason, then the answer should be “yes.” His 2024 hiatus from pitching (underwent elbow surgery in September) is not going to severely hamper their already-competent starting rotation. But the Japanese slugger can be a tremendous boost to the thin lineup.
The club ranked 28th in batting average (.235), 19th in home runs (174) and 26th in OPS (.695). Ohtani can vastly improve each of those statistical categories. He is expected to hit at full capacity by Opening Day of 2024, which gives general manager Farhan Zaidi even more incentive to heavily pursue the future two-time MVP this winter. Management’s interest level should not even be a question.
Though, there might be cause for concern on the part of Shohei Ohtani. He endured endless calamity and futility while playing for the Los Angeles Angels these past six years. To be fair, the Giants have not exactly been a pillar of consistency either since they won their last World Series championship in 2014, making the postseason just twice in that span.
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