As the MLB offseason kicks into gear, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind has to do with where Shohei Ohtani will play next year.
Ohtani, the two-way phenom and former Los Angeles Angel, is a free agent for the first time in his career, and expected to receive a potentially record-breaking contract.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today was on hand for MLB’s General Manager Meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona this week. He reported that Ohtani was a massive topic of conversation amongst all.
Nightengale also reported that Ohtani “could have as many as 10 teams making legitimate offers, and perhaps as many as 20 who’ll tell their fanbase they were in on him, too.”
As far as teams who will be involved in the sweepstakes, Nightengale notes the Los Angeles Dodgers are “heavy favorites” but the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers are also “serious contenders.” As are the Chicago Cubs, who jumpstarted the offseason Monday when they shocked the baseball world by hiring manager Craig Counsell from the Milwaukee Brewers. In fact, Nightengale heard from “several GMs that the Cubs may be the most aggressive team for [Ohtani’s] services.”
He also notes that the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox will also all likely take a run at Ohtani.
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