Shohei Ohtani: Best fantasy baseball landing spot in 2018

Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani narrowed his list to seven teams he wants to sign with. What would be the most beneficial for fantasy baseball?

Baseball fans around the world have been waiting for Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani to make a decision oh which team he wants to sign with. I first mentioned him back in mid-September. I also learned that there’s an ‘H’ in his last name. Ohtani narrowed his list to seven teams. Which team would help his fantasy prospects?

Ohtani picked six West Coast teams (Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Padres, Mariners and Rangers) and the Cubs to the list of teams he will be meeting with over the next couple of weeks. While he still expects to pitch and hit in the MLB, that doesn’t help fantasy owners.

Anyone who drafted Madison Bumgarner in years past did not receive stats for the home runs he hit. The same goes for position players that had to take the mound in extra-inning games. It all matters on how he enters your league’s player pool, as a hitter or pitcher.

I’m entering the 2018 season thinking he will sign as a starting pitcher. Most of the teams on the list are in need of another arm in their rotation. The only team that would be okay without Ohtani is the Dodgers. Then again, Yu Darvish is also a free agent.

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Ohtani shows better as a pitcher than as a hitter. If he wants to do both, then signing with a National League would make more sense. When he starts, he could get two or three at-bats per game. His manager could also use him as a pinch hitter.

If that were the route he takes, then pitching for the Dodgers is at the top of the list. He would be facing some poor offenses within the division in the Padres and Giants. Then again, if he joins San Diego or San Francisco, the Dodgers offense finished 22nd in team batting average.

However, if Ohtani signs with the Angels, Rangers or Mariners, he could pitch once every five days and possibly serve as the team’s DH on his off days. The big question is if those team managers would risk injury to Ohtani’s arm to appease his need to bat? I honestly don’t think so. There are plenty of other bats on the market to fill the role of DH that they can keep Ohtani’s arm fresh.

So, after all of that, where is the best place, fantasy-wise, for Ohtani to sign? I believe it is with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The offense is one of the best in the league. While he said winning isn’t important, it is for fantasy owners. The majority of his opponents have poor offenses which will give him solid starts and the ability to build his confidence up.

If he were to go with an American League team, the Mariners would be my choice. If they move Nelson Cruz back into the outfield, the DH spot would be open. Seattle also has a track record with Japanese pitchers, most recently Hisashi Iwakuma.

Next: Arodys Vizcaino 2018 sleeper?

We are likely going to have to wait another two weeks before Ohtani makes a decision. But when he does, it will send a shockwave across the baseball world.

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