From the moment the Texas Rangers hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy, there was one question on the mind of every baseball executive, player, agent and fan: Where will Shohei Ohtani end up?
It’s no exaggeration to say that Ohtani is the most sought-after free agent in the history of the sport. It would not be a stretch to say that his final decision and contract details will determine the remainder of MLB free agency this season and for many to come.
Not since the days of Babe Ruth had baseball seen a true two-way star like Ohtani. The two-time American League MVP (and defending American League champion) is the type of dominant pitcher who could become a star for almost any of the 30 teams when he returns to the mound in 2025. Meanwhile, his talent as a hitter alone will do the trick. It’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars as an instant addition to the power bat that every team in the MLB is eager to acquire.
Here’s the latest news on Ohtani’s free agency.
Shohei Ohtani’s free agency has been quiet for a reason
Although Ohtani is highly regarded by those in charge of all 30 teams, you wouldn’t know it by how quiet the rumors are regarding his free agency. His agent, Nez Balelo, kept everything under lock and key throughout this process.
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He went to great lengths to do this from within ESPN Jeff Passan “If visits between Ohtani and a team are reported publicly, it will be made against the team,” she stated.
MLB’s annual winter meetings among top executives began Sunday. This event is typically one of the biggest catalysts for a team’s personnel moves via trade and free agency each offseason.
However, Ohtani and his agent were nowhere to be found, according to USA TODAY insider Bob Nightingale.
However, there have been reports and rumors about which teams are involved with Ohtani and what the timeline for his decision is.
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The Atlanta Braves are still in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes
On Monday morning, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the Braves were one team still among the two-time MVP.
“One of the teams that I think we haven’t paid enough attention to [Ohtani’s free agency]Atlanta Braves,” Morosi said.
Morosi noted that a large part of Ohtani’s decision has to do with teams he believes can “win sustainably,” which includes the Dodgers and Braves.
“The Braves have not been left out of this conversation,” Morosi said.
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Nightengale: The Los Angeles Dodgers are still Ohtani’s favorite
One of the most popular predictions for where Ohtani will land is with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The former Angel will help both the lineup and, ultimately, the starting rotation without having to stray too far from the norm in Los Angeles.
Nightengale recently spoke with Dodgers Nation and Talkin’ Baseball, and a USA TODAY MLB insider told them he believes the Dodgers are the favorite to land the two-way star.
“The Dodgers would love to own the brand. They want to be Japan’s team,” he told Dodgers Nation. “they know [they’ll] I get all kinds of people coming on trips and everything else. You will sell a lot of ads. “It’s an income producer.”
In a video for Talkin’ Baseball, Nightengale also alluded to Ohtani’s comfort in Los Angeles as a driving factor for the Dodgers.
“The same doctors, coaches and people are leaving him alone,” he told Jack Oliver of Jomboy Media.
Nightengale also predicted the contract in the video, saying it could be between $450-500 million with live incentives that would allow him to make more money. He did not know if the contract would be for 10 years but said eight or nine years was likely.
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Shohei Ohtani’s decision timeline
In the same report, Morosi stated that he believes Ohtani could make a decision very soon.
“I’ve been told over the last 24 hours that it’s increasingly likely he’ll make his selection within the next week,” the insider told MLB Network.
Ohtani’s final destination has been shrouded in secrecy since his free agency began, but two things are clear:
- He would become one of the highest-paid players in the history of MLB – if not all of North American sports.
- The team that lands him will be a very desirable spot for all remaining free agents.
All may be revealed by this time next week.
