Japanese P/OF Shohei Ohtani will meet with seven MLB teams about signing with them, and "every other club is out," according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The seven teams are the Angels, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Padres and Rangers (TWITTER.com, 12/4). In San Diego, Dennis Lin reports those teams "have been invited to meet Ohtani and his representatives beginning this week" in L.A. With the field now "narrowed to a fortunate several, the courtship will involve more personal touches" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/4). In Boston, Peter Abraham notes the Yankees had been "considered a favorite" by many observers to sign Ohtani. However, Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman said that Ohtani was "more interested in West Coast teams or those in a smaller market" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/4). In N.Y., Kepner & Waldstein write if Ohtani "does choose a team on the West Coast, it would make it easier for his family, friends and even fans from Japan to fly over for weekend visits" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/4).
NOT SWAYED BY THE BIG LIGHTS: Ohtani is being repped by CAA, and FANRAG SPORTS' Jon Heyman cited sources as saying that the agency asked Ohtani to give the Yankees "a longer look" before ruling them out. CAA pointed out the Yankees' "fine young team" and the "chance to hit a lot of home runs with their short porch." Additionally, the agency highlighted the "marketing money that could be made as a Yankee in New York via branding opportunities." However, Ohtani is a "small-town guy who’s played for Nippon in Sapporo and obviously isn’t about the money" and he "was having none of it" (FANRAGSPORTS.com, 12/3).
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: ESPN's Mike Golic Jr. said the possibility of Ohtani playing in a smaller market "has to have Major League Baseball worried and salivating." Golic: "You like to see a lot of your teams represented in areas along the course of the season, but at the same time, there's no substitute for having a big-time star in a big-time market to really give you a boost where you need it most" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 12/4).
