Why the Mariners have a chance to land the big fish this offseason.

There has been a ton of discourse around the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes already this offseason, and rightfully so. Seattle will have a chance to land him, but it won't come without total commitment.

David La Spina/New York Times

Shohei Ohtani’s free agency has been the talk of baseball for well over a year now, yet I haven’t written his name in a column or trade article as a possibility for the Mariners. I didn’t even include him in my free agent guide for this offseason, but it wasn’t for lack of interest.

Most of the clubs in major league baseball would do anything for the chance to lure the Japanese superstar to their market, especially coming off back-to-back seasons with over 9 fWAR. He is truly a talent like we have never seen before, and his impending free agency gives fans and front-office executives hope he could join their club this winter.

I have dismissed the possibility of Ohtani for most of 2023, but recently some things have changed. This match makes sense for both sides. I’m about to tell you why Shohei Ohtani could and should be a Seattle Mariner in 2024 and beyond.