In 2023, when Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Angels concludes, he will be a free agent in Major League Baseball.

Ohtani’s free agency will be unprecedented in baseball history because of the enormous influence he would have on whatever team he signs with as a batter and pitcher.

The San Diego Padres, being on the west coast, were widely predicted to compete for Ohtani.

Despite a dismal 2023 season, they made it to the National League Championship Series the year before and have proven to be willing spenders.

However, it appears things will change in 2024 as the Padres are said to be cutting their payroll.

The Padres’ upcoming overhaul will hinder their chances of signing Ohtani.

Opening day salary for San Diego was about $249 million, and the organization is reportedly trying to reduce that to roughly $200 million.

Even if huge names like Josh Hader and Blake Snell were moved off the books, it still wouldn’t be enough to pay for Ohtani for a single season.

Long-term contracts for key players such as Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, and Robert Suarez don’t help matters.

It is unclear what this implies for Ohtani’s future, but the Padres’ apparent elimination from playoff contention improves the Angels’ chances of retaining their top player.

One less suitor, especially one on the west coast, will increase Los Angeles’ chances of signing the Japanese star, but only if they can create a winning team around him.