Shohei Ohtani Left Out of Top Free-Agent Starters Due to Injury; Yoshinobu Yamamoto Ranked Number One

Ohtani to serve only as designated hitter in 2024 following surgery; Yamamoto's rise to top-ranked free agent attributed to exceptional performance in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

• Shohei Ohtani, the former top candidate as a free-agent starter, has been removed due to an injury requiring surgery that would keep him off the mound in 2024. He will only serve as a designated hitter next season.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, right-handed pitcher from Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball, is ranked as the top free-agent starter due to his outstanding performance and potential in the Major League Baseball.
• Blake Snell, a Cy Young Award finalist, is second on the list despite his unconventional success during the last season where he issued the most walks in the Major League Baseball.
• Despite suffering a hip and rib cage injury, Marcus Stroman, also a free agent, is expected to be on many teams' radar for his ability to maintain low-albeit consistent performance.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers show interest in retaining Shohei Ohtani despite the club's shortcomings in making the postseason since 2014, with their new manager, Ron Washington, possibly playing a role in swaying Ohtani.

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