(670 The Score) After the belief grew Tuesday at the Winter Meetings that the Cubs were falling out of the sweepstakes to sign two-way star Shohei Ohtani, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer shared an update that calmed that narrative.
Even if his update wasn’t much of anything.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Hoyer told reporters. “There’s nothing to report whatsoever.”
Hoyer added the Cubs haven’t received a status check of any sort from Ohtani or his representation as his free agency continues. Earlier Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Cubs’ optimism to land Ohtani had waned, a sentiment that a few others echoed as well.
Additionally, Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged that he hasn’t met with Ohtani during the free agency process. Other than that, Hoyer, Counsell and the Cubs have declined to comment on their pursuit of Ohtani, whose decision continues to be the talk of the MLB landscape.
When that decision might come also remains anyone’s guess.
Ohtani, 29, has hit free agency after a season in which he won the American League MVP award for the second time in three years. He hit .304 with 44 homers, 95 RBIs and an MLB-best 1.066 OPS in 135 games for the Angeles in 2023, when he also posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while striking out 167 batters in 132 innings across 23 starts.
Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024 after having elbow surgery in September, but he has been cleared to be a full-time hitter next season and is expected to return to the mound in 2025.