There's so many variables here. IF you are signing Ohtani for DH only, he still might get record money but nowhere near the 5 or 600 million that's being tossed around as if they were dimes and not dollars. And if a team is willing to go let's say 6 or 8 years, how many more will he pitch. He's not going to pitch forever. Especially if he does get the 2nd TJ. I could see the Twins offering 6 for 300 but not much more. That would still be the highest salary per year. But there will be better offers. His injury couldn't have come at a worse time for him. I wish him well.

What.

He's not going to pitch at all for a year, and last time it took a second year to find the plate. After that you are gambling that he comes back at the level he's established and then you get to bet how long he can avoid another injury.  Pair that with a  v e r y expensive DH (to save his legs for pitching) and you get what, a Buxton platoon partner?  Another blocker to force Julien or Wallner's gloves back on to the field?

Sure he'd be fun, but the deal would be $30 for the first year and then maybe 50 for 5 more, so  6 yr $280m?  That does not get it done, but forgive me if I can't see the sunny side of this over the stacks of Correa and Buxton money piled up outside the trainer's room.  We don't need another major bet on health.

No.

Never moving to Minnesota, UNLESS, we get to the AL Championship Series. At that point, we are young and potentially attractive. 10% chance he comes.

He can’t pitch in ‘24 and may never be able to pitch “well” again. Heading for 2nd Tommy John. I think the only fair approach is to incentivize the pitching half of contract with a baseline regardless of his success as a pitcher, i.e. $10M/year …..with $15M/year of easily attained incentives…..innings & ERA based. $35M/year for offense……can’t safely hit until August of ‘24. Essentially paying him in ‘24 because you like him.

$45M plus pitching incentives x 7 years……if he can pitch it’s 7 years for $420million.

After we re-sign Maeda ….(key to get Ohtani!) & pick up Kepler’s option we have about $50M left from this year’s budget……..Ohtani’s signing is worth 5,000 patrons x 81 games + $5.00 additional charge per ticket on all tickets.

1.8M (current attendance) x $5.00 = $9M

Addl. 400K patrons x $45 = $18M…….plus $6M net on concessions

$33M just in additional revenue from signing Ohtani

$33M + $50M = $83M to spend on Ohtani & supplementing the team outside Maeda & Kepler…….seems pretty reasonable to spend $45M - $60M on Ohtani.

Not coming to Land-o-Lakes for $60M, nor any amount.

It will be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets.  He may go low years high value to show he can pitch again after a second TJ, or he may take big longer contract.  I would look at a contract that pays him as a top DH, but with big incentives for innings pitched built in.  Meaning if he can come back to pitch like he has, then he will get paid for that as well, but if he does not, then he will only be the DH he is.  The only issue is that if a team is not willing to let him pitch again for some reason, then there may need to be an opt out.  

Personally, I would only go after him if you think he will pitch again, because right now we have a 15 mil a year DH in Buxton, so will he just ride the pine if we sign a 60 mil a year DH? 

$60 million per year for 10 years for a DH???

No, he'll be a Dodger or a Yankee.  I think Ohtani is a tremendous hitter who also happens to be a very good pitcher.  His value WILL take a hit as all he will be able to play is DH.  But he will have a "prime" Nelson Cruz year as a floor for a hitter.  That kind of production is the foundation for a great, run scoring lineup.  It would be beyond fun to have him but it's Dodger Blue or Pinstripes for Ohtani.  Nobody will outbid them.  The Twins will have money to play with but a lot of youthful uncertainty and veteran mystery. 

Gray will be tough to replace.  I can't believe I'm saying this on 8/27/23 but Pagan will also be a challenge to replace.  Imagine if the Twins had added a BP arm at the deadline that would be doing what Pagan has been doing since just before the All Star break?  We could have win last night rather than see Jax give the game away.   The Twins will need to plug a lot of holes, and Ohtani doesn't plug enough of them to justify the expenditure.  

So close to staying on topic.  It took seven comments before the first complaint about not adding a reliever at the deadline.  So close.

This is satire, right?

We can always hope for a torn ligament or two in the wrists as well, giving the Twins an even better chance.

Best possible outcome: he can’t pitch or swing a bat, and Twins snipe him at $300M over 10 years to greet people at the turnstiles.

Just think if the Twins didn't give that massive mistake of a contract to Correa. 

Then you could really step into the Ohtani sweepstakes for real.

14 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

$60 million per year for 10 years for a DH???

People also forget about the money the team would make from Japan for the broadcast rights to the Twins games. Angels were getting 30M a year from Japan.

I most certainly hope not. 

That being said, IF he can pitch again while playing DH, just what is the monetary value of what is essentially a bonus roster spot?  That's the part I can't really put a number on. 

Also, IF he is a good to great pitcher again, maybe that's worth $30M, but a straight (defensive side) DH is not worth another $30M.  Nobody should pay that for a DH, but maybe somebody will.  Who knows?

Its fun to think about, but it would eat up too much of our budget.  Like they've demonstrated in LA - one, or even two (Trout) superstars do not make a winning team.  Hopefully someone like the Yankees or Houston (even if prefer he goes to the NL) sign him to eat up a big chunk of their salary space.

22 hours ago, darin617 said:

People also forget about the money the team would make from Japan for the broadcast rights to the Twins games. Angels were getting 30M a year from Japan.

Whomever signs Ohtani, the on-field production is only a part of the package.  The player salary is a small part of the consideration.  We all know Ohtani is a unicorn that transcends the game.  International visibility, merchandise sales, games on national television...  Working on the assumption that Ohtani is willing to come to Minnesota, I think you pay whatever it takes to get him here.

Minnesota is working on a new TV rights contract this Fall.  Imagine having Ohtani in the fold during discussions.

The Twins have a strong young core that should be playoff competitive for the foreseeable future, another great selling point.

It isn't my money.  I don't know all of the economics involved.  But the numbers have to come close to working out.  Do I think the Pohlad's would have the guts to pull the trigger here?  No chance.  But they should.

10 years with a player option at 4yrs and again at 6 yrs.

Ohtani WILL come to Minnesota!! Only he will be in the visitor's dugout once again....

Never will happen. Despite the Correa contract, the Twins don’t think this big. And I think Ohtani will stay on the West Coast where there will be a Japanese population to make him feel more comfortable. Or maybe even an East Coast city. 

Zero shot.. waist of time discussing. 

No way should this happen. Of course, the Twins FO doesn't seem to shy away from players with questionable medicals, which is probably why he will sign a record contract with the Twins.