Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Featured > MLB Free Agency Rumors: Shohei Ohtani Prefers West Coast
FeaturedRumors

MLB Free Agency Rumors: Shohei Ohtani Prefers West Coast

Matt Borelli
February 24, 2023
3 Min Read
Shohei Ohtani, 2022 MLB All-Star Game Media Day
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

The Los Angeles Angels offseason largely centered around owner Arte Moreno deciding against selling the team and the future of Shohei Ohtani, who is on track to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

In some sense, Moreno’s decision to remain owner of the Angels franchise was detrimental to their odds of re-signing Ohtani this winter.

The two-way star has transformed the organization since arriving from Japan in 2017, winning American League MVP four years later and placing second for the award last season.

Ohtani figures to have a slew of suitors if he reaches the open market and could command a contract with a total value north of $500 million.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, there’s a belief Ohtani prefers to remain on the West Coast due to a private lifestyle:

Those close to Shohei Ohtani predict he’ll stay out West when he becomes a free agent simply because of his lifestyle. He rarely ventures out, his friends say, and thoroughly enjoys his privacy.

When Ohtani was in the process of choosing his MLB team in 2017, he was said to have narrowed the field to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs.

If Ohtani indeed prefers to remain on the West Coast, it could bode well for the Dodgers and other clubs. Ohtani’s dodging of free agency questions at the start of Spring Training was not viewed as a positive development for the Angels.

Furthermore, Ohtani has made it clear his top priority is winning a World Series. The Dodgers have established themselves as a perennial contender while the Angels have not reached the postseason in any of Ohtani’s five seasons with the team thus far.

Dodgers focused on Shohei Ohtani

During an offseason that entailed limited, if not cautious, spending, the Dodgers were said to have been making an effort to get under the luxury tax threshold for the 2023 season in order to pursue Ohtani in free agency.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles DodgersShohei Ohtani
ByMatt Borelli
Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Max Scherzer
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers Injuries: Max Scherzer Not Worried About Hamstring Tightness

September 2, 2021
September 2, 2021
Cody Bellinger, Edwin Rios, Dodgers win
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers Non-Tender Edwin Ríos, Cody Bellinger & Luke Williams

November 18, 2022
November 18, 2022
Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Spring Training
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani To Make First Comments Since Ippei Mizuhara Betting Allegations

March 24, 2024
March 25, 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Hyun-Jin Ryu Named NL Cy Young Award Finalist Along With Mets’ Jacob deGrom & Nationals’ Max Scherzer

November 4, 2019
November 4, 2019

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어