Red Sox legend has surprising take on team pursuing Ohtani

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox legend has surprising take on whether team should pursue Shohei Ohtani

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/13/23

As Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani approaches free agency, it seems every MLB club is salivating at the thought of the two-way phenom donning their jersey. However, Hall of Famer David Ortiz believes his Boston Red Sox will steer clear of the Ohtani sweepstakes.

A guest of the "The Greg Hill Show" on WEEI in Boston on Thursday, Ortiz didn't give the impression that the Red Sox would be willing to give away the boatload of assets necessary to trade for Ohtani before he hits the open market this offseason.

"Whoever decides to get him is going to have to give away a lot, and the Red Sox right now - we're trying to rebuild the farm," Ortiz said. "We have some good candidates coming up from the farm, and that's something that, I don't know, the front office has discussed."

David Ortiz is a very big fan of Shohei Ohtani. #RedSox #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/DLsm26haQV
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) July 13, 2023

That's not to say Ortiz isn't a proponent of adding Ohtani to the Red Sox. In fact, Ortiz believes Ohtani is the best player in MLB, calling him "Superman." But, as Ortiz also stated, the Red Sox may not be in a position where adding Ohtani makes sense, as strange as it might sound.

Right now, the Red Sox are last in the American League East despite being five games above .500 (48-43). Whether or not Ohtani would put them over the edge is up for debate. Still, the cost may be too much for the Red Sox as they continue to try and build back into a consistent contender.

While the Red Sox stay patient, their rival, the New York Yankees, may be ready to pounce. Earlier Thursday, Buster Olney of ESPN indicated that the Yankees would be the favorite to acquire Ohtani ahead of the August 1 MLB trade deadline.

Meanwhile, if the deadline comes and goes without a trade, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are among the front runners to land Ohtani in free agency.

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