Earlier today, a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today said that the Cubs were falling out of the bidding for Shohei Ohtani, saying that their “optimism of landing Ohtani has now significantly waned.” However, the club’s president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer denied that framing at the Winter Meetings. “I don’t know where that came from,” Hoyer said to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. “There’s no nothing to report whatsoever.”
The Ohtani sweepstakes have been notably unusual since he and his camp reportedly prefer a shroud of secrecy over the proceedings. Reporting appears to indicate that the field is down to five clubs: The Dodgers, Angels, Blue Jays, Cubs and Giants. Ohtani is “believed” to have met with the Jays recently and there were “indications” of a meeting with the Giants prior to that. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided not to play the cloak-and-dagger games, straight up admitting that his club recently met with Ohtani.
Overall, information has been tougher to come by than a typical free agency, but Hoyer felt compelled to address today’s reporting. He said they have not been given a “status check” from Ohtani’s reps but wouldn’t discuss the club’s interest beyond that. Earlier today, manager Craig Counsell was asked about having meetings with Ohtani and replied “I have not,” per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. When asked if the front office had met with Ohtani, he repeated his “I have not” response.
The Cubs currently have a payroll of $178MM, per Roster Resource. That’s $25MM shy of their franchise high payroll of $203MM, per the figures at Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Ohtani is expected to require a contract with an average annual value somewhere in the $40-50MM range, but it stands to reason the Cubs would probably have some willingness to go beyond previous spending levels for such a uniquely talented player as Ohtani. Beyond his on-field talents, he is a big international star who should be able to provide his next club with extra revenue via increased ratings, merchandise sales and ticket sales.
One club that seems to be in the opposite position is Atlanta. It was reported recently by Jon Morosi of MLB.com that the club was “actively involved” in the Ohtani bidding. But president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos seemed to contradict that in speaking to the media today. When asked about the club’s interest in Ohtani, he said the only position player they’ve pursued this offseason is Jarred Kelenic, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They acquired Kelenic earlier this week and Anthopoulos says they are now happy with the lineup and group of position players.
Ohtani would upgrade any team in the world but it’s unclear where his priorities lie. He could go for the largest guarantee or a contract with multiple opt-outs, or perhaps something different like geography or a club’s ability to win, or perhaps a combination of those factors. Given the secrecy around the meetings, it’s also unclear how each club is pitching Ohtani or what kind of offers they are discussing.
It’s nightingale, what do you expect?
I expect him to be wrong.
He really tests the “broken clock” idiom.
Bob Nightengale reporting from the bottom of a bottle once again.
Bobby Bottle Service
Haha Bob stands for Bottom of Bottle
Unless the Cubs themselves don’t know they are out of it.
Saying their optimism has now waned is different then saying they are falling out of the bidding war.
Did anyone really expect Hoyer to publicly confirm that rumour? Of course he said he doesn’t know where it came from.
Angels will resign Ohtani
Lol.
Nippon Ham Fighters will re-sign Ohtani.
He’d be “resigned” to losing.
If they fixed their bullpen and got a starting pitcher, they would be in the playoffs
The Angels have talent. What they never have is health or a bullpen. At least not since Scott Shields retired.
I was mostly just joking around with the spelling since he left out the -. Angels should’ve been good for a while now, but one thing or another sinks them.
Some players are comfortable with that, regardless of how they may protest. Any team that give a kings ransom for this guy will likely be a losing team anyway as how will they afford any other support players after the dump truck pulls in with Ohtani’s cash?
History tells us just that. I remember when SF backed up the Brinks truck for Bonds. When that happened I predicted they would not win a WS until after he was gone, and that came to pass. Giants had to surround him for the most part with replacement level players all that time. Same will be true of the team signing Ohtani.
Not until the 2000’s was that true..the Giants 90’s teams were stacked and were the victim of having the Braves in the NL West. Once they had to pay off their stadium did they start to cry poor. The 2015 offseason, while unsuccessful, the Giants outspent a majority of other teams…
nrd,
The Rangers spent big on Seager, Semien, deGrom, and others. That worked out well for them.
Once again u don’t know what your talk about
Angel life, Who doesn’t know what they are talking about?
I don’t?
If Ohtani signs with the Angels it’s obvious he’s not interested in playing in the playoffs.
Resign or re-sign? I don’t think he needs to resign because he’s a free agent.
It came from thin air, just like 1/2 the crap he posts.
Report was fake news.
“There’s no nothing to report” …… sounds like Hoyer posts in the comments here. Apparently he doesn’t realize that “no nothing to report” means there’s something to report.
Actually I’m surprised it took this long for someone to refute a story, seeing as writers tend to publish false information (intentional or not) in their rush to be first.
The Anthony Franco method.
Let it go, Randor.
Tim told me to email him directly about the closed accounts in question. I brought him multiple names and he refuses to reply. How can I let it go?
You might want to copy and paste this to impress your friends.
“Ohtani signs with Giants.”
Forming a super team with Arson Judge. Middle of the lineup will be fire.
Nightingale is the worst.
Totally agree, Nightengale is a stooge for the Chairman.
WHY would ANY team pay THAT MUCH money?
They must think, “FANS ARE STUPID”……
I’d rather have $10 parking, $40 tickets and $2 hotdogs, $2 cokes…..
So a minor league team.
Prices of everything goes up, and it has nothing to do with the money that goes to a free agent.
This is like those people who claim that if the minimum wage goes up, a burger at Wendy’s will cost 20 dollars. Ignoring the fact that burgers at Wendy’s have been going up year after year without any raises in the minimum wage. Teams will all keep raising prices regardless of spending on new players.
Those two really don’t work the same way and saying that iflation exists doesn’t disprove that certain changes would cause additional inflation. I love when people that took an Econ 101 class think they’re experts…
Would an owner cut prices if they cut payroll?
Or would they still charge market rates?
pt – The Red Sox last year were selling packages of 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 drinks for $59.
Many teams cut payroll and also increase ticket/concession/parking prices across the board. I’d guess you won’t find too many articles about MLB teams lowering prices.
Because it will exponentially raise the value of the franchise over the term of the contract, specifically if their TV rights deal is soon expiring or up for renegotiation. They’re not paying all the money on the same day.
It’s Bob Nightengale. The same clown who talked about the Angels being open to trade Trout. It’s meaningless.
The only way Angels are trading a face of the franchise talent like Trout, is if he himself demands it.
They are out not he just commented on it..:Bob played him.
Kinda like Simon Says. And he got Jed to stand up while everyone else remained seated. Well played Bob, well played
I wouldn’t think any team who’s spent this much time into making an offer for him would think they’re out until his name is on a dotted line for another club. Their odds were no better than 30% IMO anyway. Which was up from o% IMO at the end of the season.
Could have been a ploy on Nightengale’s part to speed the process. Maybe he thought this “news” would prompt Hoyer and the Cubs to man up and sign him. Either way I don’t see Ohtani in Chicago.
I see Ohtani in Chicago. Three games in August according to this here pocket schedule
What? I don’t think Jed gets to unilaterally decided whether or not Ohtani signs…
Oh he does young Luke. Jed-short for Jedi. “That’s not the team you’re looking for”
Nightengale is very good in reporting first things that have already happened, but if he is predicting something or reporting a rumor its always wrong. He is extremely reliable in being wrong. Among national writers, other than Olney, he is at the top of the list in the percentage of his rumors being wrong.
Heyman doesn’t even try being factual so he’s in a realm all his own.
But Olney and B.O.B. Goodnight strive to be intentionally wrong (wrong > 50%), while Heyman is more or less accidentally or randomly wrong (approx. = 50%). Thus the nuance
He just says what Boras tells him to.
According to an X account called MLB Insider, the bidding is over and the Dodgers are signing him to a 600 million contract. I am pleasantly surprised really. I thought ace starting pitchers are their greatest need but it’s not my money.
There are about 50 X accounts called MLB Insider.
Need a Dodgers insider.
“There’s no nothing to report whatsoever” – pretty much sums up the “Winter” Meetings (which really should be called the Autumn Meetings)
the nuclear winter meetings will be even less active
This comment is underrated.
Jed simply hasn’t been told yet.
Jed with the morning after feeling: Discovering he wasn’t invited to the party and the party was last night and was epic.
The Cubs will chase the shiny object to get fans lathered up then, back to bad signings and trades while charging premium $ to watch mediocre baseball. The fans always show up….that’s the problem.
I enjoy the hyperventilating and low sobbing as the fans walk their way past the trough’s from the watered down beer too much.
Jed has to weigh whether he wants to spend $500M+ to end up working for Ohtani.
Nightingale strikes again
The same guy that reported Craig Counsell was going to the Mets
The way I see it is, until Ohtani signs on the dotted line. No team is truly out.
What has Ohtani done for the Angels?……..My uncle Artie asks.
Hit and pitched extremely well.
Brings in fans.
The BS is starting to fly, if the Cubs don’t get Ohtani it’s not for lack of cash, his agent is pretty much telling everyone what it’s gonna cost the rest is details
More like the Cubs are in denial they’re out on Ohtani
burn
More like burno
burn0
He’s going to the Giants. Plain and simple
Homer take. We need a reason.
Jed should just “Gird His Lions” and move on.
Many areas to address instead of focusing on Ohtani. He may not pitch again or be as effective after 2 TJ surgeries. But he is a professional hitter. Need a starter, bullpen help, 3rd and 1st base.
He should do no such thing. That’s illegal in most localities.
He doesn’t sign with the Dudgers for one really simple reason, everyone else thinks he should. He’ll want to make a splash. Toronto has a better chance than the LaLas. Mark it down though, he’s signing with the Giants!
That’s not much of a sound baseball reason.
Like a team executive would ever publicly say they’re out of the bidding for a top free agent.
Well, for Ohtani’s agent saying that silence in the negotiations will impact where Ohtani signs, these GMs are doing a lot of talking!
So many of these “rumors” are 100% lies so some stupid reporter can act like he knows something and has a “source”. So it’s pretty much the same as the real news.
Dodgers, 12 years/$600 million! No opt outs. Crazy!!!
There’s no way they match that Giants offer. Not happening.
Giants need him and will pay that. Dodgers don’t and won’t, even though his Camp will give them an opportunity to.
That wouldn’t work for Ohtani because he wouldn’t want to be trapped into the deal, he’d want at least 3 opt out options. Like at year 3, 5, and 7.
“There’s no nothing to report whatsoever.”
I would need a doctorate to comprehend that statement.
Jed not so good with words and logic and stuff but like any one of the Clampetts , what he lacks in sophistication he makes up in scruffy charm. Sure has the Drysdales attention
Welp,they are out now. Just failed the test.
Everyone failed. So Ohtani decided he’s going to retire and go into seclusion.
Right?
Well, now he’s commenting on the negotiations. Guess they’re out of the sweepstakes if they weren’t before.
Honestly, Shohei, make a freaking decision – what more information do you need?
Uh oh. Old fox Nightingale just trapped Jedster into a boo boo. First rule of Ohtani fight club. There’s no talking about Ohtani fight club. He gone
Ohtani Fight Club didn’t actually exist though. It was all in Ohtani’s mind.
And now have that Pixies song playing in my mind
I wonder if all the people bashing Nightengale will come back and admit they were wrong if Ohtani doesn’t go to the Cubs.
No. You could just guess that and have a decent chance of being correct since only 1 team will sign him. That doesn’t make what he said, at the time he said it, correct.
Ohtani’s love of secrecy is a little unnerving. He won’t even tell the name of his dog.
Can this be a good teammate?
I can’t agree with bashing him about not even giving the name of his dog. That’s a privacy thing. Put yourself in the shoes of someone like him. You have to live in the public eye as a ballplayer. But you are entitled to have some privacy in your life, both for mental wellbeing (if one is an introvert) and for safety (see Rebecca Schaeffer). Just because you happen to be one of the best in the world at a particular talent that places you in the public eye does not mean that you have to sacrifice every aspect of your life – including parts of privacy that you’d like to maintain.
Now imagine a person that is an introvert.
GMs have a responsibility to their team and fan base so they should decide what they talk about, not a prospective player. If ohtani won’t sign with any team that talks about their plan to try to sign him, I wouldn’t want that in my clubhouse anyway.
I agree. This demand for secrecy is off putting. But he’s an elite talent so teams will put up with no shortage of BS. (See Jets with Aaron Rodgers)
I honestly hope the Cubs take a pass on him. He’s not worth the kind of money everyone wants to throw at him. They can do much more good by spending wisely.