The SF Giants are expected to be one of the biggest threats to sign two-way star Shohei Ohtani away from the Los Angeles Angels this offseason. Despite the Phoenix Suns' attempt to sabotage the Giants' free-agent pitch, they still have a compelling case to make. Giants right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb told reporters during the All-Star Game on Tuesday night that he wants San Francisco to pull out all the stops.
“He’d be huge,” told The San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea and Bay Area News Group's Evan Webeck. "Whatever you thought Judge would have been as the face of the Giants, he would eclipse that with the whole country. You look for people to be the face of your franchise, not only the skill but off the field, what type of people they are. I’ve never been around anybody who wants to win more than Shohei. I want to win as much as anybody, but he would do anything to win. So I’d be thrilled if there was some avenue for us to get him at the deadline and sign him long-term during this offseason.”
Cobb was teammates with Ohtani during the 2021 season with the Angels and got to see the best two-way player in MLB history up close. On Tuesday, Cobb faced his former teammate in the All-Star Game, issuing a lead-off walk to him in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cobb added that he's "already campaigning" for the Giants to go all-in for Ohtani whenever the opportunity arises. While the Giants improved farm system could build a compelling offer to acquire Ohtani before this summer's MLB trade deadline, the Angels are not expected to make him available. After all, even if the probability that Ohtani re-signs with the Angels is low, it's hard to justify giving up whatever miniscule probability that is.
Whether or not Shohei Ohtani will be available to the SF Giants in July or November, starting pitcher Alex Cobb is doing everything he can to will the two sides together. In Cobb's most direct statement to reporters, he was adamant about Ohtani's future. “He’s coming to San Francisco.”
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