Shohei Ohtani rumors: 3 surprise teams that should have an eye on him

3) Shohei Ohtani rumors: Why the Mariners could make a run at him

Ranked way down as the 18th-highest payroll in the sport, the Seattle Mariners getting involved in next winter’s Shohei Ohtani rumors would be delightful. The franchise has had a phenomenal history of employing Japanese-born players with Ichiro Suzuki headlining the list.

What’s more, the Mariners would be stealing Ohtani away from one of their rivals. Taking him away from the Angels would be the kind of power move that Seattle needs to make in order to prove they can be a favorite in the division.

The Mariners are going to have a hard time keeping up with the Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers if they aren’t willing to spend money. They have been more aggressive in recent years. Extensions for Luis Castillo and Julio Rodriguez suggest they are willing to build for the future while competing now.

Seattle won’t be able to acquire Ohtani in a trade deadline deal because of the state of their farm and sharing a rivalry with the Angels. Unlike the Cardinals, they’ll need to wait until the offseason.

It’s hard to know what Ohtani will want in free agency, aside from the biggest deal possible. If staying out west is something he desires, no team is sneakier than the Mariners to make it happen. They can sign him to a $50 million per year contract and not even go over the luxury tax. It’s something they should have on their minds already.