Cubs reportedly 'sleeper' team for superstar Shohei Ohtani |
The Chicago Cubs could be a sleeper team in the race to sign Los Angeles Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani, according to USA Today baseball insider Bob Nightengale.
Although Ohtani passed on the Cubs when he came to the United States in 2018, Nightengale suggests that they could find themselves in contention should the Japanese phenom hit free agency. “Yet, the sleeper in the Ohtani free-agent frenzy, several baseball executives predict, are the Chicago Cubs,” Nightengale wrote on Sunday. “They were the only team outside the AL West and NL West that were on Ohtani’s original list when he left Japan six years ago, and certainly, they have plenty of money stored up to pay Ohtani whatever he desires.” In 574 career games, Ohtani has 129 home runs and 348 RBIs. He is also an incredible pitcher, as he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting last season. The competition for Ohtani’s services will undoubtedly be fierce. The Angels have a vested interest in keeping him, while the Dodgers and Mariners have both been linked to him in the past. If the Cubs were to land Ohtani, it would give them a true superstar to build their roster around. They have a solid core of young players, including infielder Nico Hoerner and outfielder Ian Happ, but adding a player of Ohtani’s caliber could take them to the next level. Of course, there are still many variables at play, and it’s unclear if Ohtani will even hit free agency. He’s currently under team control through the 2023 season, and the Angels will likely do everything in their power to keep him. However, if he does become available, the Cubs could be a team to watch.
