Dave Roberts Says Ohtani is Dodgers’ ‘Top Priority’
Updated Post: Dec. 5 at 3:33 PM
Jorge Castillo of Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers met with Shohei Ohtani about, “a couple of days ago” at Dodger Stadium. Manager Dave Roberts also noted Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville that Ohtani is their, “top priority.”
New Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that he hasn’t met with Ohtani during the free agent process, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Original Post: Dec. 5 at 1:40 PM
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Chicago Cubs’ initial optimism on landing superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani has “waned.” This report is from a high-ranking executive who says the likely finalists for Ohtani are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.
This news comes after Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Monday that Ohtani met with the Blue Jays at their Spring Training complex in Dunedin, Florida. Most meetings with the player have been secretive, which Ohtani requested. Up until now, much hasn’t gotten out. Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, noted that the player would hold it against a team if there were leaks to the media about any negotiations.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle had reason to believe the Giants met with Ohtani on Saturday, as team officials were at Oracle Park, and rumors emerged Ohtani was in town that day.
All eyes are certainly on the Ohtani market, as things will surely pick up once he is signed. Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, went as far as to say that he believes the Winter Meetings were slower than usual because “the top of the free agent market hasn’t moved yet.” In this, he refers to Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The post Dave Roberts Says Ohtani is Dodgers’ ‘Top Priority’ first appeared on Metsmerized Online.