Mets rival envisions San Diego Padres as a prime contender to land Japanese Star Shohei Ohtani in the free agency haul

The San Diego Padres are expected to be among the top bidders for Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani next offseason. As a big-spending team, the Padres are poised to make a strong push for Ohtani's services because of their lower tax rate compared to other teams.

Ohtani will be a highly sought-after player due to his exceptional skills as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Rival owners believe that San Diego's recent success and aggressive approach to building a winning team makes them a top contender for Ohtani. The Padres have made several significant acquisitions in recent years, adding talent and putting themselves in a strong position to compete for a championship.

With the addition of Ohtani, the Padres could potentially become one of the most formidable teams in the league.

Shohei Ohtani has had a significant impact on the game of baseball since he joined the league in 2018. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year that season and has been one of the top performers in both pitching and hitting since then. Ohtani's unique skillset makes him a valuable asset to any team, as he can contribute both on the mound and at the plate.

New York Post columnist Jon Heyman believes that the New York Mets (easily the richest team in the MLB) will be among those who will court the Japanese pitcher. However, the "Cohen Tax" imposed on them could open the doors for other teams. He wrote:

"Even at 110 percent, a 10-year, $500M deal would cost Cohen more than $1 billion. (One rival predicted that for this reason, he expects the big new spender, the Padres — whose tax rate isn’t nearly that high — to be high bidder.)"

"Dealbreaker? An Ohtani deal would cost Steve Cohen $100M plus a year thanks to the current CBA’s 4th tier tax rates. But might other owners press for the coming 110 percent top tax to rise more — or even for a salary cap — simply to curtail Cohen?" - Jon Heyman

The San Diego Padres could win the World Series with Shohei Ohtani on board

Los Angeles Angels v Oakland Athletics

The San Diego Padres already have a strong roster already, and the addition of Shohei Ohtani would give them a major boost in their quest for a championship.

With their strong pitching rotation and potent offense, the Padres have all the pieces in place to make a serious run at the World Series. If they are able to land Ohtani, they could become one of the most fearsome teams in baseball.

For now, Shohei Ohtani will be focused on his current team, the Los Angeles Angels, and will look to have another memorable season with them. But the San Diego Padres will surely be interested in his signature come next winter.