Report: Ohtani contract negotiations entering ‘final stretch’
originally appeared on
NBC Sports Bay Area
Ever since he broke into Major League Baseball, fans have been waiting to see which team Shohei Ohtani will play for next season. The anticipation is particularly high for Giants supporters, eager to see if their team will sign the Japanese phenom. Contract negotiations with the Japanese two-way star are entering their final stretch, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.
San Francisco is among the select group of MLB teams expected to meet with Ohtani and his representatives in Los Angeles this weekend. While it’s presumed that the Giants have made a pitch to the free agent, their exact position in the Ohtani free-agency sweepstakes remains unclear.
Other teams, such as the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, have shifted their focus to different players on the market. The bidding process still involves the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “The San Francisco Giants have long had a fondness for Ohtani, though where they stand in these sweepstakes is unknown,” Passan wrote.
As negotiations reach a climax, the Giant’s low profile could indicate respect for Ohtani’s privacy. Last month, it was reported that the superstar would hold it against any organization leaking details of their meetings with him. Despite this discretion, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi made clear that the Giants are making a strong push to land either Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Now, the baseball world and Giants fans alike are on edge, eagerly awaiting the outcome of these sweepstakes. Whatever the result, it seems likely that it won’t be long before Ohtani or Yamamoto dons the Giants’ colors. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast
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