REPORT: Chicago Cubs Will Be "Among the Players" for Shohei Ohtani in Free Agency
For obvious reasons, we’re going to be primarily focused on the Trade Deadline right now, and then hopefully hyper-focused on the Cubs’ games in August and September and October.
But that doesn’t mean free agency won’t still pop up as a discussion from time to time, and that’s especially true when the free agent you’re talking about is maybe the best free agent of all-time.
That is to say, yes, I’m going to be a bit obsessive about Shohei Ohtani in the weeks and months ahead, because WHATEVER happens is going to be sport-shaking for all of baseball. And if there is a teeny, tiny, itsy-bitsy chance that the 29-year-old combination superstar hitter and superstar pitcher could wind up with the Chicago Cubs? Yeah, I’m gonna hang on that stuff with all the hopes my little heart can muster.
So when Bruce Levine reports this morning that the Cubs will be in on Ohtani in free agency, I can’t stop myself. I get too excited.
Here’s what Levine just said on ‘Inside the Clubhouse’ on 670 The Score:
“The Chicago Cubs will be among the players for Shohei Ohtani when he turns free agent in November. I don’t think it’s any shocking news. I don’t think it’s any breaking news. I just think it’s appropriate news that a big market team like the Chicago Cubs are going to be interested in the Shohei Ohtani market going forward, according to industry sources. … The Cubs want to continue to be the Chicago Cubs, they want to be world champions in the future, and Ohtani’s tires will be kicked by the organization.”
Levine’s co-host, David Haugh, was understandably taken aback. He pressed Levine with exactly the question we all would: ok, sure, the Cubs would have interest, but are you saying ownership would ACTUALLY spend the money necessary to pursue Ohtani?
Levine did not back down.
After indicating that the cost could be over $600 million, Levine said he believes the Cubs organization is committed to getting the best players, and they do have the resources to land Ohtani. The Cubs would not back away from the anticipated cost, from what Levine understands of their thinking.
Ultimately, Ohtani will decide where he most wants to live and play, though, because the money will be there from any suitor (including the Cubs), according to Levine.
I’LL TAKE IT.
Obviously we’ll want to hear this kind of reporting from more sources when the offseason actually approaches, but for now, I will absolutely take any kind of morsel that suggests my desperate hopes to see Ohtani in a Cubs uniform aren’t COMPLETELY without a prayer. Highly unlikely? Oh sure. I will concede that. But I just need possible. And according to Bruce Levine, it is possible.
Source: bleachernation.com
