# MLB Hotstove, or the 2024 Ohtani sweepstakes **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 2, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492 "2023-11-02T17:48:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/181 "2023-12-22T04:51:42Z")
That’s a billion in the past two weeks. One billion dollars. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/182 "2023-12-22T04:54:51Z")
I give the Dodgers credit for full commitment, at least. They’ll always have an edge over the East Coast teams with Asian players. They can spend with the best of them, and nobody wants another 6 hours on top of what’s already a 12-hour flight back to Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/183 "2023-12-22T06:22:00Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > That’s a billion in the past two weeks. > > One billion dollars. The Guggenheim group that owns the Dodgers has assets worth $325 billion. They can big dick anyone in baseball if they chose. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/184 "2023-12-22T13:09:42Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I would have thought he’d not want to have to share the limelight with another Japanese co-star. That’s the reason I heard he wasn’t interested in the Mets’ offer - he didn’t want to share the spotlight with Senga. Gotta say, it makes a ton of sense for the Dodgers. They went from having a full rotation of studs two years ago (Kershaw, Beuhler, Bauer, Urias, May) to cobbling together bullpen games in the postseason last year. I’m excited to see Yamamoto pitch in the MLB, I think he’s going to be electric. There’s really nothing better than a new foreign player pitching out of his mind in LA, and I’m no fan of the Dodgers. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/185 "2023-12-22T15:25:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > They’ll always have an edge over the East Coast teams with Asian players. They can spend with the best of them, and nobody wants another 6 hours on top of what’s already a 12-hour flight back to Japan. I don’t quite understand this. If one is considering the Yankees, for instance, there are direct flights from NYC to Tokyo. The flight time is only 2-3 hours longer than from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and surely these players would be flying in the best of first-class. Is this a big factor for them? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/186 "2023-12-22T17:13:39Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I don’t quite understand this. If one is considering the Yankees, for instance, there are direct flights from NYC to Tokyo. Maybe he just hates the Yankees. I can understand that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/187 "2023-12-22T17:16:33Z")
So can I. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/188 "2023-12-22T17:16:37Z")
And the Mets then, a lot of people thought the Mets had a better shot than the Yanks. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/189 "2023-12-22T19:13:23Z")
The per year salary for someone who has never thrown one pitch in the majors is crazy. 12 years is crazier. You have to figure it’s really 10 years or less. With the state of pitching today there is at least one TJ salary on the horizon. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/190 "2023-12-22T19:43:28Z")
Wouldn’t it just be cheaper for the Dodgers to just buy a World Champion banner and hang it up. Pretend it’s the new reality. Seems to work for a lot of people nowadays. Just sue if someone says it’s a fraud or fake news. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/191 "2023-12-22T19:47:41Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Wouldn’t it just be cheaper for the Dodgers to just buy a World Champion banner and hang it up. Well, they’ve certainly been spending a lot on salary in recent years. They’ve won the NL West in ten of the last 11 seasons, made the playoffs eleven straight times, and yet, only have one World Series win to show for it (in the COVID-shortened 2020 season). New ownership seems more than happy to throw even more money at the task. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/192 "2023-12-22T20:44:39Z")
My main complaint about the Yankees for years was “they just buy championships”. They have deep-ass pockets, but they also develop the hell out of their players. Same goes for the Dodgers. I’m more than happy to see them spend a billion dollars on 2 players - maybe q it’ll help shed a spotlight on the teams that won’t open their checkbooks and try to compete. Hell, even the Royals seem to be making an effort this year. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/193 "2023-12-22T20:46:27Z")
I’d rather see great players come here and win, instead of wasting their careers with the likes of the Angels. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/194 "2023-12-23T07:21:40Z")
well it seems to follow the Heido Nomo idea … i mean he made the Dodgers money in some lean years and made a lot of Japanese dodger fans and didnt they sign one of the first Koreans in MLB ? also next to Seattle and SF LA has one of the biggest Asian communities i think Asia is going to be the next Caribbean regarding talent for the next decade or so ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/195 "2024-01-10T00:18:14Z")
Cubs get Imanaga > **[Japanese free agent Shota Imanaga reportedly picks Cubs](https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/japanese-free-agent-shota-imanaga-reportedly-picks-cubs-000610624.html)** > > Imanaga started the WBC final in Team Japan's win. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/196 "2024-01-10T02:07:19Z")
A California government official is pissed about Ohtani’s contract and wants there to be a limit on how much salary can be deferred in the future. > **[Why California's controller is pitching a tax code change over Shohei...](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/california-controller-tax-code-change-shohei-ohtani-dodgers-contract/3307527/)** > > The contract's structure, which includes deferred payments, led California's controller to request a change in tax code that caps the amount of money deferred. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/197 "2024-01-10T09:47:52Z")
The ultra-wealthy always find a way to dodge taxes. If they close this loophole, and they should, they’ll find another. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/198 "2024-01-13T10:14:37Z")
Yankees sign [Marcus Stroman](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39289677/marcus-stroman-new-york-yankees-agree-deal-sources-say) for 2 years/$37 million. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/199 "2024-01-13T17:07:05Z")
The Blue Jays are, at this point, likely to have a losing season. They seem unwilling to acquire anyone of significance despite having gaping holes in the lineup. The team has, by my count, FOUR hitting coaches, if one includes the fact they have named Don Mattingly the “Offensive Coordinator.” Perhaps they intend to play football. I have no idea what an “offensive coordinator” does in baseball. I understand the purpose of a hitting coach, or a baserunning coach, but what is there to “Coordinate”? You hit and you run the bases. If you do those things effectively, you will score runs and win baseball games. You can’t have more than one guy hitting at once, so what is there to coordinate? The lineup card? The manager does that and it’s not really much of a job. The Jays have a coaching staff of THIRTEEN coaches, including their four hitting coaches. One of them, Gil Kim, is a “Field Coordinator,” another job title that leaves me mystified as to what the duties are. They have also hired a “Major League Mental Performance Coach,” which I guess we can assume is like some sort of sports psychologist. On the other hand they presently do not have an actual third baseman. They have a number of second rate middle infielders who, I guess, will have to fill in there. I know I’ve only been studying baseball for forty years, so I may not be super clear on how it works, but… and again, I’m just spitballing here… I am at least eighty percent sure that you are better off having a third baseman than not having one. It helps a lot when ground balls are hit towards third base. In fact, and again I stress this is mere surmise, I suspect that a third baseman might be a more important thing to have than an “offensive coordinator.” Unless you are a football team, in which case I would very much agree an offensive coordinator is a better asset than a third baseman. I am, however, fairly certain that in 2024, the Toronto Blue Jays will be asked to play a schedule of baseball games, not football games. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/200 "2024-01-13T17:16:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Unless you are a football team, in which case I would very much agree an offensive coordinator is a better asset than a third baseman. Perhaps the plan is for Mattingly to play third. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492.md?page=11)