While Shohei Ohtani and several organizations continue to pursue each other, the Major League Baseball free agent market remains largely stagnant.

Ohtani is now ranked first among players available on the free market as the MLB Winter Meetings get underway in Nashville, Tennessee. Due to the high demand for his services, the two-way star, together with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, holds the majority of the cards.

The hefty price tag and the “lucrative” contract that appears to be the only option are worth it because of his capacity to alter the game. Among the teams making overtures are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Angels.

But according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Ohtani might be getting close to making a choice soon:

Although the Jays have been a genuine contender for Ohtani in recent weeks, the Dodgers have long been seen as the front-runners. The speed at which Toronto is moving appears to be a reflection of a set of events driving the team into win-now mode.

Teams holding meetings with Ohtani and his agent have not been made public, and it is unclear when exactly he will commit. However, the fact that MLB front offices are currently working to complete their rosters could quicken the process as a whole.

Although Ohtani’s free-agent choice is unknown, the meeting suggests that the Jays and other clubs are nearing the end of their negotiations.

Juan Soto, an outfielder with the San Diego Padres, has been linked to the Blue Jays, so that’s one more avenue to pursue. However, considering that Ohtani and they are reportedly meeting on Tuesday in Florida, they might be tied for first place with the Dodgers.

The Angels are dedicated to improving the team in addition to chasing Shohei Ohtani.

The Angels enter the 2024 season with somewhat low hopes after signing Ron Washington.

After a deep run at the trade deadline and a slow, devastating collapse in the second half, this past regular season ended with a letdown. But because of the youth on their squad, the Angels currently lack a lot of both experience and excitement, which Washington offers to the team.

Although Minasian and the front office haven’t veered too far from their goal to rebuild, Ohtani’s choice may significantly alter everything.