Former GM explains why he 'wouldn't sign' prized free agent Shohei Ohtani

It's safe to say that all 30 MLB teams reached out to prized free agent Shohei Ohtani to gauge his interest in joining their squads. However, if former general manager Steve Phillips were in their shoes, he'd pass on the two-way superstar. 

Appearing on the "Dan Patrick Show" Thursday, Phillips said he wouldn't sign Ohtani if he were still in the GM chair, arguing that the risk isn't worth the potential reward. 

"I think his body is beginning to reject the notion of being a two-way player," Phillips said. "He just had his second elbow procedure. I don't know if it was Tommy John or not, but he's the most protected starting pitcher in baseball — pitches once a week, once every six days and his elbow still broke down."

Ohtani is impactful at the plate and on the mound, but his greatness emerges when he can do both. Unfortunately, it happened rarely over his five seasons in Los Angeles with the Angels. Ohtani started 86 games but topped 131 innings only once. For context, 120 pitchers have had multiple seasons throwing 131 innings or more since Ohtani's debut in 2018, per Stathead. 

A torn UCL suffered back in August was Ohtani's second severe elbow injury after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018. He had surgery in November, which will keep him off the mound for the 2024 campaign. While the belief was that his inability to pitch next season wouldn't impact his price on the open market, it has to be something to consider for teams in the running for his services. 

There's risk in every player, but it's highlighted more in a player like Ohtani. Many expect him to land a contract between $500 million and $600 million in free agency, which is quite a haul for a two-way player who might not pitch again until he's 30. However, one could argue that the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner is worth the cost even if he can't take the hill.