The Shohei Ohtani race is at an all-time high, and the clubs wouldn’t have had it any other way. The golden boy of baseball, Ohtani, has been desired by many, if not all, of the teams since he stepped foot on the MLB scene. Regarded as the two-way phenom of the century, his impeccable hitting and pitching tactics have earned both awe and odes from fans, teammates, and analysts alike.

Ohtani is all set to choose his next home in the MLB this 2023 offseason. According to market reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers have set their eyes on getting the slugger in their dugout by the end of the draft deadline. When Ohtani was graduating high school in 2012, they tried to get him on a serious note. It makes sense why they would go after him the moment he became available. However, there are other fierce contenders in the market who have not given up on their Ohtani dreams, much like the Boys in Blue themselves; who are these teams in question?

Dodgers vs. Big Three: A Race for Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani’s Dodgers predicament depends on more than the history he has with the team. The beloved Shotime has a special place for Southern California in his heart; if all goes well, the Dodgers might get lucky this time around. However, the other teams that are racing for him don’t fall behind when it comes to the question of money, merit, and monocracy in the MLB kingdom.

Clubhouses that are reportedly running after Shohei Ohtani include big names like the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Texas Rangers. All three of them have finances and fame worthy enough to honor a player like Ohtani in their dugout. They are closely followed by the San Francisco Giants, and Ohtani’s old team, the Los Angeles Angels.

The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs are said to be in contention as well. However, given the Padres’ financial form for this season and the Cubs’ notoriety for choosing lower-range players (the biggest draft in the team’s history came for $184 million, an eight-year option), they can be considered passive participants in the free agency race. Amongst the top 3, which one will Ohtani likely choose if the Dodgers’ future doesn’t work out for him?

Who will come out at the top?

The Yankees seem to be the second-best option for Shohei Ohtani, according to The Athletic’s report. They have a high-functioning player development infrastructure; they have the money and the fame. Having Ohtani will only increase the brand value of their $7+ billion team. However, Ohtani has not once shown his interest in donning a pinᵴtriƥe to date. Does the unicorn have a thing for the underdogs?

All in all, it seems like the Dodgers can score the Unicorn if they don’t get intimidated by the scope of the prospective teams the slugger has lined up for him. Bleacher Report agrees that the Blue Crew will be the best fit for him as well, with the contract predicted to be $520 million for 10 years.

Will we see Shotime donning the blue, the pinᵴtriƥes, or something entirely different? Only time will tell!