Which MLB teams should be all-in on Shohei Ohtani?

TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 19: Starting pitcher Shohei Otani #16 of Japan throws in the top of fifth inning during the WBSC Premier 12 semi final match between South Korea and Japan at the Tokyo Dome on November 19, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) /

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TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 12: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Japan is seen during the warm-up ahead of the international friendly match between Japan and Netherlands at the Tokyo Dome on November 12, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) /

1. New York Yankees

With their farm system filled to the brim with talent, the Yankees can afford to blow their entire international bonus pool allotment to sign Ohtani. They also need to fill one more slot in their rotation and have a hole at DH. Everything points to the Yankees being a prime player in the Ohtani sweepstakes, especially if the posting rules are kept as they are right now.

What Ohtani is giving up in terms of upfront salary, the Yankees can more than make up for with marketing, exposure and a big contract extension down the road. Money and fame don’t seem like the primary drivers for this particular pitcher since he is willing to come over early, forgoing what would surely be a $200-million deal. Still, Ohtani must have some interest in becoming an international superstar, and there are few places better for that than New York City, playing for the most recognizable franchise in the league.

As it currently stands, the Yankees have one more opening in their starting rotation behind Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and likely Jordan Montgomery. It’s not a rotation where Ohtani would be expected to step in and assume the mantle of ace while throwing 200 innings. There will be a learning curve for the 23-year-old who has never topped 175 innings in Japan and made only five starts last season.

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Seriously, though, what better place for the Japanese Babe Ruth to start his MLB career than in New York and the House that Ruth Kinda Built? The Yankees have a favorable park for Ohtani as a hitter, a fellow Japanese ace in Tanaka and a low-pressure slot at the back of their rotation for him to ease into. The Yankees are where I’d put my money if I were betting on Ohtani’s landing spot.

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