As Major League Baseball prepares to convene in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday, the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani in his free agency tour appears to be gaining traction.

Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray, two key players in the beginning pitching market, are no longer available. With Nola returning to the Philadelphia Phillies and Gray joining the St. Louis Cardinals, the top three starting pitchers still available are Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shōta Imanaga.

The Los Angeles Angels are still looking to add players to their roster, and a lot will depend on if Ohtani chooses to sign a long-term contract. Over his tenure, owner Arte Moreno has shown a strong desire to retain the two-way standout because of his strong bond with elite players.

Not every team, meanwhile, is a good fit for a mega-contract of the caliber Ohtani will demand. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Angels are still one of the teams vying for his services:

According to insiders, the teams that were initially interested in the athlete, including the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, have now moved their focus to other players. Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Angels are among the teams that sources have revealed are still in the running for the championship. Ohtani has long been a favorite of the San Francisco Giants, although it’s unclear where they are in the standings.

Ohtani has made history as the only two-time unanimous winner and as the 2023 American League Most Valuable Player. He recently received all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, making him the only foreign-born player with multiple MVP Awards, along with Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols.

Ohtani’s contract estimate is distinct in terms of both his overall worth and the range of incentives that might be linked to his status as a two-way player.

Along with Shohei Ohtani, Perry Minasian reiterates the need to improve the Angels

Aside from the obvious one that Ohtani might go if he contracts elsewhere, the Angels have significant vacancies in their roster following the appointment of Ron Washington as the team’s next manager.

The Angels now need a lot of both experience and enthusiasm due to the youth on their squad, so keep that in mind. Washington provides both to the team.

Perry Minasian, general manager, emphasized that they will continue to concentrate on developing a full squad and that they plan to be competitive.