3 best Shohei Ohtani destinations that meet all of his wishlist items

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels signs autographs during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at T-Mobile Park on July 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels signs autographs during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at T-Mobile Park on July 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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Jun 9, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Shohei Ohtani rumors: Why not the Padres?

If Ohtani wants a secluded spot on the west coast, then why not San Diego? The Padres have one of the best cores in baseball and all are signed long-term. They have an owner and an aggressive general manager who will spend all the resources at his disposal. Yet, oddly enough, the Pads haven’t been mentioned all that often in Ohtani talks.

Josh Hader did what he could to change that in Seattle, discussing why Ohtani should be interested in the Padres to reporters.

“It’s San Diego. I mean, do you really need much more than that?” Hader asked. “If you’ve ever been in San Diego, you know how beautiful it is. It’s a fun team. We’ve got a lot of great guys for long term, so he’s a guy that they probably want to lock up for a long-term deal as well, as long as they can find a billion dollars somewhere.”

Hader makes a valid point. San Diego is beautiful. It’s a small town and a big city at the same time. It’s exactly what Ohtani, at least per recent reports, claims to want.

It should be noted that the Padres are struggling this season, which Ohtani surely sees given he plays in close proximity. Preller would have a tougher sell if San Diego can’t turn things around this season.