Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Mets Never Made 'Formal' Contract Offer Before Dodgers Deal

The New York Mets never made a "formal" contract offer to Shohei Ohtani before the two-way superstar signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.

The Mets reportedly didn't make their offer after it became clear that his contract value would be higher than the team was willing to go. Ohtani signed with Los Angeles on a record-breaking deal worth $700 million over ten years with no opt-outs.

Any $700 million investment carries inherent risk, although Ohtani's Angels tenure showed that he should be worth every penny when healthy. The two-time MVP is one of the most unique players in baseball history, hitting 124 home runs at the plate and striking out 542 batters on the mound in the past three seasons alone.

He's accumulated a 3.01 ERA as a starter with a record of 38-19 throughout his career, averaging an American League-leading 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 2022. Ohtani has been even better at the plate, posting an MLB-best 1.066 OPS this past season while hitting 44 homers and knocking in 95 RBIs.

It's worth noting that Dodgers fans will need to be patient before he takes the mound again, as he's not expected to pitch until 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery toward the end of this past season. He'll be ready to hit in 2024, though.

As for the Mets, they'll likely use the money that wasn't offered to Ohtani to add starting pitching help alongside All-Star Kodai Senga. The team has remained "heavily in the mix" for Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, via SNY's Andy Martino.

Owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns recently flew to Japan to meet with Yamamoto and his family.