Hearing the Tampa Bay Rays have a better-than-average chance of being considered as a landing spot.

Only problem is a dearth of Japanese-origin population in the area. However, that is easily surpassed by the abundance of great Cuban/Colombian eateries which should ensure that he'd be at 200 lbs in no time.

https://www.draysbay.com/2017/...ease-come-to-florida

Finalists for the pageant could be announced/leaked today.

Mariners are throwing their historic playoff drought at him as a way to entice him. Mariners are a organization grasping at straw, straws.
We have no pitching and our GM is an idiot we have figured out and thinks we need everything but pitching.

Too much water falling down from the sky for the Mariners to stand a chance.

Yeah, kind of like too much sun and heat in TB

We'll keep him nice, dry and comfy.

and we will feed him all the fish he is accustomed to and he will have plenty of friends here.

Ain't gonna happen in either place though.

"The Ohtani sweepstakes is seemingly on the verge of picking up in earnest, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the 23-year-old CAA Sports client will meet with various teams in Los Angeles next week (Twitter link). The Mariners are among those clubs, suggests Passan, who relays that team brass has asked multiple members of its roster to clear their schedules for a potential meeting with Ohtani. That comes on the heels of general manager Jerry Dipoto’s revelation last week that the Mariners are preparing an aggressive push press for Ohtani. “We’re not joking around. We’re bringing the big guns,” declared Dipoto (Twitter link via Greg Johns of MLB.com)." https://www.mlbtraderumors.com...rumors-saturday.html

Yes, Dipoto will make an extraordinary effort.
And there is a tiny bit of hope he can pull it off. But the Mariners need LOTSA help. He might help a little. But not near enough.

We are in need of a one, two and three on our pitching staff. And that does not include our bullpen, which sucks. Thanks to Dipoto on both counts.

I am betting the Rangers or Yankee's myself.

The Rays can trade to your guys Odorizzi and Colome. Sign Cobb to a 5-year deal and you're set to go. The Rays will even throw Dickerson into the mix.

Just give us your top 5 prospects.

The Mariners and the Rays do have a history of trades. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

Fwiw, the Rays' answers to the Ohtani questionnaire: http://www.tampabay.com/sports...can-win-it_163185394

He's coming to Oakland. The A's need an ace and a bat.

quote:

He's coming to Oakland.

Not if the Rays rename the stadium "The Shohei Ohtani Field".

Which they are willing to do.

I would take odorizzi. You may want to look into our farm system. It is in bottom or the league.
That is the thing that bugs me the worst about the Mariners. 16 years in a row missing the post season. Have a bunch of older players, no current pitchers and a piss poor farm system. Wow, lots to look forward too.

No viable prospects in a trade have ever been an impediment for trades by the Rays.

Remember, the Rays have to pay for a new sign for the ballpark when they rename it "The Shohei Ohtani Field".

quote:

Originally posted by jehzsa:

quote:

He's coming to Oakland.

Not if the Rays rename the stadium "The Shohei Ohtani Field".

Which they are willing to do.

Like Oakland won't rename the city Ohtani-land? The Raiders and Warriors are leaving. Ohtani could be the only game in town and they'd let him design the new stadium to his preferences.

quote:

Ohtani-land

The Rays have already trademarked the name.

Ohtani-land™

Congratulations, old rugged cross.

Sorry, Berto.

https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2...l&utm_source=twitter

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com...-of-the-running.html

Rays are out. https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Ra...s/937480809887469568

"No soup for you!".

May Ohtani starve to death...

Oakland never gets nice things. Hope the kid enjoys the rain in Seattle.

They do have great sushi.

holy $&(! The Giants?!?

Not only are they in the middle of trading for Stanton but, Ohtani is giving strong consideration even though they're not a AL team, which you'd think he'd prefer given the opportunity to pitch and play DH, which he did in the Japanese League. Also, the Giants are hamstrung with how much salary they can pay him as I think they're up against some salary cap type rule about international players.