Are Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes Set to Heat Up, With Teams Backing Out Amidst Nearing Winter Meetings?

The winter meetings are right around the corner and the name Shohei Ohtani is on everyone’s mouth. In an offseason dominated by Samurai Japan stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga, Ohtani remains in the center stage. With a contract that can go even above $500 million and a fantastic pool of teams to choose from, Shotime has quite a decision to make.

Though the silence has been deafening, there have been whispers about his dealings. Will these whispers turn into loud voices during these winter meetings? Especially as the two-way phenom is expected to make a final decision in or right after the said meetings?

Winter Meetings could provide clarity on the Shohei Ohtani situation

There have been speculations about Ohtani’s preferences. They range from him choosing comfort to championships to a homely vibe. In truth, few know what is actually in the mind of Shotime. But one can at least understand what his potential suitors think. Though with his “statute of silence”, most teams are silent but they do leave hints here and there.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently revealed that early favorites like the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets, and the Texas Rangers are out of the sweepstakes. The remaining teams could increase the intensity of their pursuit during these winter meetings. Moroever, Passan noted the deal can even touch $600 million. The suitors want quick answers as they can’t leave this amount hanging while the rest of the league invests heavily this offseason.

This is why the winter meetings could see an acceleration in the Ohtani saga. Even though the offseason has been quiet till now, there is no guarantee that it will remain so for long. If Ohtani’s free agency lingers, this could spell disaster not only for the teams but Ohtani himself. Ideally, he’d like to give teams some time to create a winning team around him. This can only happen if he chooses his team quickly.

Read more: Toronto Blue Jays Achieve Off-Season Gold, Reportedly Signing Juan Soto or Shohei Ohtani

All of this means that the Ohtani race can reach its conclusion as soon as next week. The question then becomes which of the remaining teams has the highest chance of getting the 2x unanimous MVP?

Blue Jays, Cubs, and Dodgers ahead of the rest

The Toronto Blue Jays are making their ambitions known. Their GM recently almost made a pitch to Ohtani while discussing all the advantages that the Jays provide due to their ownership, market, and good infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the LA Dodgers have been the overall favorites since day one due to their proximity to Anaheim as well as their constant presence in the playoffs. The Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, are major dark horse, who have a huge legacy and are on a rising trajectory.

All in all, it seems the winter meetings are the penultimate episode of Shohei Ohtani’s free agency this year.

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