Report details Dodgers' thoughts on signing Shohei Ohtani

Since last winter, many in the MLB community have viewed the Los Angeles Dodgers as the favorites to sign Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in free agency.

On Monday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reported that Ohtani "will be a top priority for the Dodgers this winter" even though the 29-year-old likely won't pitch before 2025 after he needed surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow last month. 

"The team is cautiously optimistic about its chances of signing (Ohtani), hopeful it checks as many boxes as any other suitor," Harris noted. "And the process is expected to unfold quick enough that — sign Ohtani or not — it shouldn’t significantly affect the rest of the Dodgers' offseason tasks." 

MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post dropped somewhat of a bombshell last week when he reported that he views the Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers as the three joint favorites to land Ohtani. Danny Abriano and Colin Martin of SNY suggested on Tuesday that Ohtani may prefer to stay on the West Coast, but Harris pointed out that "it’s anyone’s guess — including those within the Dodgers front office — about which factors Ohtani will value most."

"The Dodgers' pitch to Ohtani will probably be robust," Harris continued. "They are an established winner that should allow him to compete for the World Series. They have a renowned infrastructure for player performance and improvement. They also have experience shepherding free-agent pitching acquisitions through injury rehabilitations." 

It's assumed Ohtani will want to resume pitching as soon as spring training in 2025, if possible. 

A report from last week indicated that big-spending New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is "going to be right in the middle of things" as it pertains to the Ohtani sweepstakes. Harris acknowledged that "other clubs could outbid the Dodgers" for Ohtani at a time when the National League West team desperately needs starting pitching for next season. 

Logic suggests Ohtani's price will increase with each realistic offer he receives ahead of Christmas. It's unknown how much the Dodgers are willing to spend on the generational talent and/or if Ohtani would leave money on the table to join a proven winner that plays home games in his adopted home of California.