Report: Cubs out on Shohei Ohtani, SF Giants still in mix
Dec 5, 2023, 2:28 PM | Updated: 2:28 pm
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
While superstar free agent Shohei Ohtani might not select his new–or most recent–team before the conclusion of this week’s MLB Winter Meetings, the list of potential destinations is beginning to thin.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Chicago Cubs are out of the Ohtani sweepstakes, leaving four teams as the likely finalists for the two-way, two-time American League Most Valuable Player:
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants.
The Chicago Cubs’ optimism of landing Shohei Ohtani has now significantly waned, one high-ranking executive said, leaving the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants as the likely finalists.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 5, 2023
It’s no secret that the Dodgers have been enamored with the possibility of luring Ohtani from the cross-town Angels, but Los Angeles isn’t the only team that has reportedly met with the Japanese sensation this week.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts shared on Tuesday that Ohtani met with the Dodgers’ staff “a couple of days ago” at Dodger Stadium, while The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the 29-year-old also traveled to Florida for a meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
The San Francisco Giants are once again vying for the top free agent on the market after losing out on New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge last winter, and reports recently indicated that Ohtani visited with the Giants’ brass in the Bay Area last weekend.
An uneventful Winter Meetings continue to drag along in Nashville, Tennessee as Ohtani and fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamto–a three-time Pacific League MVP pitcher that is also in the process of meeting with teams–continue to weigh their options.
The rest of the free agent and trade market is on hold until Ohtani makes his move, and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi shared this week that a decision could come as soon as this upcoming weekend.
More SF Giants & Shohei Ohtani Rumors
MLB Winter Meetings Rumors: SF Giants in on Yamamoto, Ohtani
MLB Offseason Schedule
- December 4-7th – MLB Winter Meetings
- December 6th – Rule 5 Draft
- Mid-February – Spring Training begins
SF Giants Schedule
- February 13-15th – Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training workouts
- February TBD – Full squad workouts
- Saturday, February 24th – Spring Training opener vs. Chicago Cubs
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