Updated Post – Dec. 4 at 11:00 am
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Atlanta Braves are one of the teams still engaged with Shohei Ohtani‘s camp.
The Braves have already been active this offseason keeping bullpen arms in the fold, signing Reynaldo Lopez, and trading for former Mets prospect Jarred Kelenic.
Jeff Passan previously reported the teams he knew were still in the bidding for Ohtani were the Angeles, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Dodgers.
Updated Post – Dec. 1 at 8:10 AM
Jeff Passan gives an update on superstar Shohei Ohtani as we get close to the Winter Meetings, and it doesn’t sound like great news for fans of the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets. Passan reports that those three teams, previously known to be vying for Ohtani, have turned their attention to other players.
Passan goes on to note that the Los Angeles Angeles, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers are known to still be in the bidding for Ohtani. Lastly, the ESPN reporter says its unknown where the San Francisco Giants currently stand in the sweepstakes.
It’s been widely reported that Ohtani would prefer to sign earlier in the offseason, with the Winter Meetings that start on Monday in Nashville as a possibility.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Original Post – Nov. 12 at 10:58 PM
On Sunday morning, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the New York Mets have their eyes set on ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He added that the team is doing so because they believe they have no realistic chance in landing superstar Shohei Ohtani. In the report, Nightengale mentions the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels as favorites, while also mentioning the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.
The 29-year-old Ohtani is arguably the biggest free agent the game has ever seen. Ohtani posted a 1.066 OPS as a hitter and an 142 ERA+ as a pitcher before being shut down last season in order to get elbow surgery. This will hold him out from pitching in the immediate future, but will likely have little bearing on the mammoth, record-breaking contract he will receive this offseason.
It has long been said that Ohtani prefers the west coast, and was reported just a few days ago by Jon Heyman of the New York Post that Ohtani may be reluctant to live in New York. This is likely a large reasoning behind the Mets reported unrealistic chance at landing the two-way superstar.
Regardless, wherever Ohtani goes, it will be on record-breaking money and some team, likely in the west, will have a big-time superstar for years to come.
