(Photo credit score: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)
Shohei Ohtani plans to determine the place to signal “within the week,” MLB Network reported on Monday because the Winter Meetings started in Nashville, Tenn.
The free agent two-way star is projected to obtain a record-setting contract price greater than $500 million with solely a handful of groups nonetheless thought of severe choices, per a number of experiences.
MLB Network stated Monday that the Atlanta Braves are nonetheless within the operating for Ohtani, opposite to experiences that listed the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers as finalists.
Signing with the Braves would put the left-handed slugger in the midst of a lineup that options 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna and MLB house run chief Matt Olson (54 homers in 2023). Acuna turns 26 this month. Olson is 29 and signed an eight-year contract — by way of the 2029 season — when he was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in 2022.
Ohtani was a two-time MVP (2021, 2023) with the Angels and an American League MVP runner-up in 2022. He has 124 house runs for the reason that begin of the 2021 season and struck out 11.4 batters per 9 innings as a starter for the Angels final season.
Ohtani had surgical procedure on his elbow and won’t pitch in 2024.
But the three-time All-Star does have “consistent winner” as one of many traits he is searching for in his subsequent staff.
Ohtani didn’t play in a postseason recreation in six seasons with the Angels, who signed the Japanese star Dec. 8, 2017.
Ohtani, 23 on the time, narrowed his listing of suitors to seven earlier than signing with the Angels. The Mariners, Rangers, Dodgers, Padres, Cubs and Giants had been Ohtani’s different finalists earlier than his preliminary contract was signed.
–Field Level Media