The Shohei Ohtani hot stove stuff at the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings is starting to get scalding.
Although the free agent pitcher/slugger hasn’t signed anywhere as of publishing this post Wednesday morning, the reports about where he might be leaning or not have percolated a bunch. So we thought it was useful to put them all in one place, although as you know, there could be a lot of changes coming as Ohtani weighs where to go next (or he could stay with the Los Angeles Angels, which seems like it could be a surprise).
Let’s dive in with everything you need to know at the moment:
Did Dave Roberts violate rules when he revealed the Dodgers met with Ohtani?
That was the big news out of Tuesday. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that the franchise met with Ohtani, despite the reports that Ohtani didn’t want any leaks about meetings.
Dave Roberts paused for nearly 4 seconds before leaking the Ohtani meeting. That’s not even a leak. He actively chose to go against his screaming thoughts telling him to not say anything 😂 pic.twitter.com/7PvsAyhcyR
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) December 5, 2023
Seems like the New York teams could be out
A clubhouse source says that Shohei Ohtani said he "couldn’t see himself playing in New York", per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/WmhNsWWFP8
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 6, 2023
Not a huge surprise at this point, but … there you go.
The Cubs might still be in the running?
Cubs have not been informed they are out on Ohtani. Doesn’t mean report is untrue but they haven’t heard that. Belief is at least the Dodgers, Jays, Giants and Angels are in.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 5, 2023
The Dodgers and Blue Jays are reportedly finalists
That’s per USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale:
The Dodgers and Blue Jays appear to be finalists for Shohei Ohtani with Giants and Angels still hopeful https://t.co/6uibg2AXc0
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 6, 2023
There is a "positive feeling" about the Blue Jays
Ohtani did tell some folks he knows before his probable Jays Florida visit he has a positive feeling about Toronto (and a few other cities/clubs, including the Dodgers). Don’t discount the Jays.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 5, 2023
