2 reasons the San Diego Padres should still pursue Shohei Ohtani, 1 reason they shouldn't

The San Diego Padres should still pursue Shohei Ohtani this winter because they need an upgrade at DH

The Padres have used four different DH's this season: Matt Carpenter, Nelson Cruz, Ji Man Choi and Garrett Cooper. And none of them are even remotely close to being viable solutions at that position right now, let alone going forward.

But you know who would check that box? Shohei Ohtani.

As we mentioned, Ohtani's value as a hitter is well-established. For further context, though, consider that the Angels' combined 4.8 bWAR at the DH position in 2023 is the best in baseball. And on the opposite end of the spectrum are the Padres, who rank second to last with a -0.2 combined bWAR. That's a discrepancy of nearly five wins.

Those five wins might've been the difference between back-to-back playoff appearances and a disappointing season for San Diego. The choice couldn't be more clear: the Padres need a DH upgrade in the worst way, and Ohtani should still be able to hit and provide value in 2024. That's a match made in heaven.