Speculation is circulating that the Toronto Blue Jays are the leading contender for the now-free agent Shohei Ohtani. However, multiple sports reporters, including ESPN’s Alden Gonzales, reported that the former Los Angeles Angels’ two-way superstar has yet to decide on the next club.
“Source: Shohei Ohtani has not made a decision yet,” Gonzales said on the media social X on Friday. “That’s not to say it won’t ultimately be the Blue Jays; my understanding is that, at this point, that decision has not been made.”
In accordance with Gonzales’ report of Ohtani’s undecided stance were Sportsnet editor and journalist Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi David.
“Source tells me and @ShiDavidi there is at present no decision made by Shohei Ohtani, nor is there a timeline for a decision,” Nicholson-Smith’s Tweet on Friday read. “#BlueJays are a finalist. We’ll see where it leads.”
Earlier on Friday, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that Ohtani was en route to Toronto. The scheduled private jet flight from Anaheim to Toronto grabbed some fans’ attention, but Ohtani was not on the plane upon arrival.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today has also contradicted Morosi’s statement by saying Ohtani remains at home in Southern California. Morosi subsequently retracted the report about Ohtani’s travel to Toronto.
Another X user, Clarence Frazer, tweeted a post that drew 650+ retweets. They claimed that the Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi booked a restaurant for 50+ people that night. Kikuchi is known to have ties with Ohtani, as both attended Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan.
Multiple finalists for Ohtani’s next club
Shotime transitioned into free agency on November 5, just a day after the conclusion of the 2023 World Series. After rejecting a qualifying offer from the Angels on November 14, Ohtani is now free to negotiate with any team.
Ohtani is anticipated to secure a record-setting contract, with many speculating that his free agency may reach an unprecedented range of $500 to $600 million. This potentially marks the largest guarantee in North American sports history.
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA, will oversee the negotiations, with indications pointing toward the possibility of intricate contract terms. These may encompass opt-outs and incentives tied to his pitching performance, given his history of elbow surgery.
However, his free agency has been kept deliberately private, as both the athlete and his representatives decided to keep the proceedings strictly confidential.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins, speaking with reporters via Zoom during the Winter Meetings, refrained from disclosing his location. Subsequent reporting from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggested it was “believed” that Ohtani met with the Jays at their Dunedin, Florida facilities during that period.
Aside from the Blue Jays, recent reports indicated the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs are the other finalists. However, most of these clubs are reluctant to confirm their involvement in respect of Ohtani’s preference.
Earlier this week, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shattered the cone of silence by openly acknowledging that his club had recently met with Ohtani and labeled him as a “top priority.” Despite concerns that this revelation might jeopardize the Dodgers’ chances, Dodgers Nation’s J.P. Hoornstra reported that it is not believed to have played any role in Ohtani’s decision, assuming a decision has been made.
As of Friday morning, the Blue Jays’ odds to sign Ohtani has risen. Starting at 35-to-1 in September, the odds now stand at -115. Despite the momentum, the Dodgers still lead in favorability at -135, per FanDuel’s Friday morning market closure.
