Report: These 11 Teams Will Make “Strong Pushes” For Shohei Ohtani

Major League Baseball's GM Meetings kick off this Tuesday in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the name on nearly everyone's lips will be free agent superstar Shohei Ohtani. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, in fact, more than a third of MLB teams will be making "strong pushes" for the former LA Angels two-way star.

While big signings likely won't take place this coming week, no doubt the groundwork will be laid amongst GMs and agents for where some of the game's biggest stars will wind up.

As for Ohtani, Nightengale breaks it down this way:

Los Angeles Dodgers: The overwhelming favorite to land him.

Chicago Cubs: The "sleeper pick" according to several GMs. They have $43M coming off the books.

Boston Red Sox: Expected to be "heavily considered".

New York Yankees
New York Mets
San Francisco Giants
Seattle Mariners
San Diego Padres
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays

All of the above teams "will make strong pushes".

And finally, he says we shouldn't discount the incumbent, the Los Angeles Angels. Citing the fact that Ohtani likes his privacy, he's been able to have that in Orange County for the past five years, and he just might not want to give it up.

Photo: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports