The Rangers have spent the last few weeks basking in the glow of their first-ever World Series victory—a five-game triumph over the Diamondbacks that wiped away a half-century of futility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
However, as satisfying as that victory may have been, Texas may not be content to rest on its laurels in 2024.
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Rangers are poised to make a run at free agent designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani this offseason.
“I would expect that virtually every large-market team will at least check in (on Ohtani),” Rosenthal told former All-Star infielder Todd Frazier on Tuesday’s edition of Foul Territory.
He went on to specify that the Rangers, Cubs, Yankees and Mets would be among those teams before suggesting Texas as a serious potential suitor.
“The one team I expect to be somewhat serious is Texas,” Rosenthal said. “Texas is coming off a World Series title. They are emboldened by what they’ve done the past two seasons…. They’ve spent $800 million on free agents and in my view, they’re going to keep going.”
Ohtani is coming off yet another dominant season in which he led the American League with 44 home runs, a .412 on-base percentage, and a .654 slugging percentage. Despite his heroics for the Angels, he has yet to play in a postseason game in his six-year career.
