Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Busy NL Central Squad 'Aggressive' in Pursuit of Star
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I'm not sure if you guys heard, but two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is a free agent this winter. That means Ohtani could choose any MLB team he wants to go to for however long.
A flurry of teams are in line to acquire the Japanese sensation; all 30 teams would be in line if they had the money, but that isn't the world we live in; still, many teams are putting their hat in the ring.
Of course, your Angels are in the mix, but they don't hold the best odds to sign him. There is a good chance that Ohatni will don a new jersey for the 2024 season and beyond, and while oddsmakers have him taking the 5 North and call Chavez Ravine home, another NL powerhouse team will reportedly aggressively pursue the slugger/ace.
Here's MLB insider Bob Nightengale, on the NL team rumored to stop at nothing to acquire Ohtani.
The Chicago Cubs are serious contenders, with several GMs saying that the Cubs may be the most aggressive team for his services.
The complete list of teams with a good chance to acquire the 28-year-old are the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Halos.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand added to the Cubbie speculation.
“He doesn’t seem to be driven by money, so I don't think it's just dollars,” the NL exec said. “I think it's all about fit for him. I think the Cubs will push hard for him.”
The Cubs are coming off a 2023 season where they narrowly missed the postseason by one game. Potentially, adding the likes of Shohei would bolster their playoff and maybe World Series odds.
Ohtani is a hot commodity, the hottest this sport has ever seen. We'll see who will be able to strike gold this winter, and I know many Angel fans are hoping they keep that gold.
