The reeling Angels are finally considering trading Ohtani before the Aug. 1 deadline. The Giants have a suddenly deep farm system. Do it!
“I’d be thrilled if there was some avenue for us to get him at the deadline and sign him long-term,” Cobb told the Mercury News after pitching a scoreless fourth inning in Tuesday night’s All-Star game. “But if not at the deadline, then during this offseason.” (Cobb faced and walked Ohtani on Tuesday night.)
The Giants and their fans had their hearts broken in a slapstick free agency period last winter. Cobb wants everyone to get their hopes up again after missing out on Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa.
“Whatever you thought Judge would’ve been as the face of the Giants, he would eclipse that with the whole country,” Cobb said of the two-way phenom. “You look for people to be the face of your franchise, not only as skilled, but off the field who they are.”
Mariners fans chanted “Come to Seattle” at Ohtani, who encouraged them by mentioning he had spent a few winters in the city.
Cobb, who was teammates with Ohtani for his 2021 MVP season, wasn’t having it.
“He’s not coming to Seattle,” Cobb said with what the Mercury News termed “a sly smile.” “Ichiro’s already got his stamp on here. He needs a new place. He’s coming to San Francisco.”
Ohtani has been vocal about his desire to play for a winner after a loss-ridden tenure with the Angels. His contract will make history this winter; an AP dispatch from the All-Star Game tossed out $500 million or $600 million as a starting point. Maybe the Johnson family should bump that up to a billion just to be safe.