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Shohei Ohtani fatigue is setting in.
The prized free agent is still deciding where he’s going to sign, with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reporting Ohtani is expected to make a decision by Sunday.
The Cubs appear to still be in the running for the star designated hitter/starting pitcher, and they also have interest in other free agents.
Until Ohtani signs a contract expected to be north of $500 million, a holding pattern looks to be firmly in place.
“Every market gets held up by usually the best player in that market,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters Wednesday before leaving the winter meetings in Nashville. “If you have a number of teams in on the top player in a different market, then there’s a trickle-down impact. And sometimes people don’t want to go to Options B and C and D until A is gone.”
If Ohtani lands with the Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays or returns to the Angels, the Cubs are likely to move quickly on other targets.
Saying he has “other lines in the water,” Hoyer headed back to Chicago with a better idea of what might be available.
“I definitely feel like it was a worthwhile meetings,” he said. “I think that it forces conversations. You’re up late, talking to people, I think that’s really valuable. I think that we definitely leave here with a lot more information about things we think we might be able to accomplish than when we got here, which was kind of the goal.”
On the positional side, the Cubs have been linked to first baseman Rhys Hoskins and third baseman Matt Chapman.
Hoskins had 30 home runs and 79 RBI with the Phillies last season while hitting .246/.332/.462 and striking out 169 times in 672 plate appearances.
Chapman hit 17 homers and had 54 RBI with the Blue Jays while slashing .240/.330/.424 and striking out 165 times in 581 plate appearances.
Rule 5:
In the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft Wednesday, the Cubs selected second baseman Hayden Cantrelle from the Giants.
The Cubs lost infielder Andy Weber to the Diamondbacks, shortstop Levi Jordan to the Reds and pitchers Adam Laskey (Marlins) and Sheldon Reed (Twins).
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