The Seattle Mariners have been linked to Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani since the beginning of the offseason, and now Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times has examined their chances of signing him. Ohtani is a two-way player who can pitch and hit, and he has been dubbed the “Japanese Babe Ruth”. He is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, and the Mariners are among the teams interested in signing him.
In his column, Calkins examines the Mariners’ chances of signing Ohtani. He points out that the Mariners have a few advantages over other teams. First, they have a strong relationship with the Nippon Professional Baseball league, which could give them an edge in negotiations. Second, they have a strong Japanese-American fan base in Seattle, which could make Ohtani feel more at home. Finally, they have a deep farm system that could provide Ohtani with a better opportunity to develop as a player.
However, Calkins also points out that the Mariners have some disadvantages when it comes to signing Ohtani. They lack the financial resources of some of the other teams interested in him, and their major league roster is already full of talented players. This could limit Ohtani’s playing time and make it difficult for him to develop as a player.
Overall, Calkins believes that the Mariners have a chance to sign Ohtani, but it will be an uphill battle. He points out that the team has some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages that could make it difficult for them to land him. Ultimately, it will come down to how much Ohtani values the opportunity to play in Seattle and how much he believes he can develop as a player there.
The Mariners are certainly hoping that their advantages will be enough to convince Ohtani to sign with them, but only time will tell if they can pull off the signing of the “Japanese Babe Ruth”.
