Shohei Ohtani, the two-way baseball star, has been in talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers, as confirmed by the team's manager, Dave Roberts. The Dodgers are the first team to publicly acknowledge their meeting with Ohtani, who is currently a free agent. The meeting, which took place at Dodger Stadium, lasted between two to three hours.
Roberts stated that Ohtani is the team's top priority for the offseason. The Dodgers' presentation to Ohtani was reportedly simpler than their previous meeting in 2017, and no current players were involved. The team is also interested in signing free-agent right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but their plans depend on the outcome of their pursuit of Ohtani.
Ohtani has also visited the Toronto Blue Jays and may have also visited the San Francisco Giants. However, the Chicago Cubs are said to have a waning chance in the bidding race. The Dodgers, along with the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays, are believed to be the finalists for Ohtani.
Ohtani is expected to command a record contract of $500 million-plus, with multiple teams vying for his services. However, he also underwent surgery for an elbow injury that will keep him off the mound until 2025. Despite this, his successful season has led to high anticipation for his next move in free agency.