Red Sox Rumors: A Shohei Ohtani signing changes the game dramatically

The Boston Red Sox is a floundering franchise trying to slap together a team using medical tape and ace bandages. Their motto could be, “Injured players R us”.

The management hitched their wagon to a squad of older, injured types hoping they hit the megabucks on them and become relevant again. It’s a risky strategy that probably will fail.

This strategy (or non-strategy) is flawed to the hilt. Relying on older and injured players and a starting pitching staff that is just about 100 percent injury-riddled, what should you expect? The answer is not a lot.

This 2023 team’s construction is flawed. So let’s discuss a move that after this season and its expected last-place finish, can help this moribund team rebound.

There actually is a move that would make perfect sense. That’s signing super player Shohei Ohtani in the offseason. Let’s take a look at that prospect.

Boston Red Sox need a major-league move: Shohei Ohtani

Under the post-Dave Dombrowski baseball management team headed by Chief Baseball Officer, Chaim Bloom, the team has taken a nosedive.

Under Dombro, all the team did was win three AL East titles in a row and the World Series. Then after an 84-78 “down” season due to injuries, they slipped to third place.

Dombro was summarily dismissed and scapegoated for that one poor season. Then the absentee ownership used that down year as an excuse to cut costs, add to their already overflowing coffers, and bring in an executive, Chaim Bloom, who maybe could win without the big-market team cash infusions.

In the three years since the team had one nice season in 2021 wherein they unexpectedly roared into the ALCS before bowing out. That Cinderella-like season was sandwiched in between two last-place finishes, something Dombrowski never experienced in Boston.

A trade for Shohei Ohtani may have worked before the Boston Red Sox wisely signed a long-term extension with Rafael Devers in one of their best moves in four years.

Devers would have been the centerpiece going to the Angels. Now, with Devers re-signed, what about signing Ohtani in the offseason as a free agent?

Boston Red Sox signing Ohtani would be brilliant

Ohtani is an MVP-level superstar. He’d not only be the Red Sox’s best hitter along with Devers, but he’d step into the No. 1 starting pitcher’s spot, as well. Since shipping out Mookie Betts, there is no MVP-level player on this team.

Ohtani changes that in a hurry. It almost makes too much sense for the Red Sox to go big, really big after this dual-threat megastar. If the absentee ownership actually still cares about the team, signing Ohtani would be a huge indicator.

Why is that? First, make no mistake about it, Ohtani will likely be the first half-billion-dollar player in major league history. If paying that type of cash on a player isn’t a statement of intent by the owners, nothing is. That’s $500M over 10 years or some other variation thereof.

mlb.com’s Jack Macgruder has this to say:

"Some have speculated that Ohtani, 28, could become Major League Baseball’s first $500 million man, although Balelo would not go there, calling that “just someone’s opinion.” Trout remains the highest paid player in the game after signing a 12-year, $426.5 million contract in 2019."

Funny thing is, Ohtani would be well worth the freight. Again, this player can probably pitch effectively for a minimum of half of the contract, maybe longer.

In addition, when his pitching days end, he’d be natural to play first base or DH. Devers being on board is a complication but it can be worked around.

The Boston Red Sox have stumbled into the irrelevance of the Al East cellar. The once-feared juggernaut has been systematically dismantled since Dombrowski was dismissed in the name of profit.

If the Boston Red Sox owners want to regain relevance and the respect and admiration of their now booing fans, signing Ohtani would be THE step to take.

Otherwise, they will hopefully do the right thing and sell the club to someone who will. It’s as simple as that.