Shohei Ohtani Update: Cubs Still in Running, Yankees and Several Other Teams Out
See below for other updates on teams that are out of the running, but confirmation is coming in the Cubs will indeed meet with Ohtani. They and the Rangers are the only such teams that aren’t on the West Coast.
Hearing Rangers, Cubs are only 2 non-West Coast teams on Ohtani's meeting list. Rangers not saying a word.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 4, 2017
Now being reported that the #Rangers and #Cubs will also meet with the Shohei Ohtani team. They are in addition to #Mariners, #SFGiants and #Padres. I have not seen any word yet about the #Dodgers.
— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) December 4, 2017
We appear to have gotten some major news in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. Yankees beat reporters are confirming that GM Brian Cashman has been told the Yankees are OUT of the race to sign the Japanese star. Cashman said it appears Ohtani has placed small market and West Coast teams at the top of his preference list, but a recent report from Mike Bernadino suggest the Cubs may be the exception to that rule.
The Yankees have been informed that they are OUT in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
Cashman said that Ohtani’s reps told him they were very impressed with team’s presentation, but no matter how good it was, the Yankees couldn’t make themselves West Coast or a smaller market.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
Sources: #Twins also out on Ohtani, joining #RedSox, #Yankees. Strong belief, as others have noted, that he will wind up on west coast. #SFGiants, #Mariners in, per @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2017
Sources briefed on Ohtani cutdown tell me “heavy West Coast” flavor to final list. #Cubs a possible exception along with SEA, SF, SD and both LA clubs.
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) December 3, 2017
In addition to the Yankees, the Pirates, Mets, A’s, Twins, Blue Jays, Red Sox have all been eliminated from the running as well. The West Coast bias has been noted by several different sources, but there’s something to be said for the fact that the Cubs are still in the mix. Maybe.
***Update***
Ken Rosenthal tweets that the D-backs are also out.
#DBacks also out on Ohtani, per source. Teams that have yet to acknowledge outcome include #Cubs, #Angels, #Rangers, #Padres. Possible indication they’re in; not confirmed.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2017
***Update #2***
Consider the source, but this sounds right.
The Chicago #WhiteSox are also out on Ohtani
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 4, 2017
***Update #3***
The Rays and Cardinals are both out.
#Rays are out on Ohtani.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 4, 2017
#Cardinals are not in the Ohtani race, confirmed from source. They are "out." #stlcards
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) December 4, 2017
***Update #4***
Add one more to the list, as the Braves are out.
To no one's surprise, the #Braves are out on Shohei Otani. The #Pirates are out even though they had the fourth biggest bonus pool at $2,266,750. While the #Rays are also out, they do have Brendan McKay in the pipeline. He's Louisville's Babe Ruth.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 4, 2017
***Update #5***
The Nats are officially out, though they were never really in. That makes 14 teams not in the race, with the Marlins reportedly out due to being cheap as hell.
The Nationals have been told they are out of the running for Shohei Ohtani, according to a person familiar. No surprise there.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) December 4, 2017