Insider Update on Cubs Chances for Shohei Ohtani Either Great or Awful for Fans

If you are online even for a little bit, then you know that USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has a murky track record when it comes to reporting insider info. No doubt, he’s nailed signings and trades, but he’s also built up the reputation of being completely wrong about some of the information he relays from his sources.

So, Cubs fans, this is either great news or awful news, because Nightengale’s latest update on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes has the Cubs bowing out, feeling their chances dwindling on signing the Japanese superstar.

But it’s Bob, so get ready to order your Cubs Ohtani jersey!

There hasn’t been much info on the Ohtani free agent pursuit, but the latest rumblings have him meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays at their spring training facility in Florida on Monday. That report came from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

There have also been rumblings about the San Francisco Giants meeting with Ohtani, but nothing concrete on that front.

Meanwhile, last Friday, ESPN insider Jeff Passan said that the Cubs along with the Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels were still among the teams in the bidding for Ohtani. Back in November, Passan reported that any leaks would be held against teams because Ohtani wants his free agent process to remain private.

Via ESPN.

If there is one thing to know about Shohei Ohtani’s free agency, it’s that you are unlikely to know much about it until he signs somewhere. If visits between Ohtani and a team are reported publicly, it will be held against the team, so the circles will be tiny and tight.

A lot of the recent Ohtani rumors have come from Toronto reporters. It’s possible that they do indeed have an inside track to sign him and there is mutual interest and other teams are beginning to drop out of the race or they’re pushing these stories to make it look like they are trying hard to appease their fan base.

There has been nothing coming from the Dodgers or Cubs when it comes to meetings with Ohtani in the past week.

So, we’ll see. Let’s hope Bob is wrong again like he was with Craig Counsell earlier this offseason