Insider reveals timeline for Shohei Ohtani free-agency decision

For a piece published on Tuesday, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reminded everybody there's only one thing for sure about how Shohei Ohtani will complete his free-agency journey: Nothing's for sure. 

"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," Passan directly said. "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."

It seems unlikely Ohtani will re-sign with the Los Angeles Angels, and Passan noted that "the expectation among teams involved is that Ohtani could move relatively quickly -- perhaps even before the Dec. 4-7 winter meetings, according to sources." The two-way superstar has routinely been linked with the Los Angeles Dodgers since last offseason, but Passan wrote that "though the industry's overwhelming expectation is that [Ohtahi] winds up with the Dodgers, that line of thinking is perhaps presumptive." 

On Monday, ESPN's Alden Gonzalez echoed a previous claim and said that "people familiar with Ohtani's thinking believe he might be open to a short-term deal with an exceedingly high average annual value, a circumstance that would open up a host of suitors this offseason." Ohtani is coming off surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and probably won't pitch before the spring of 2025, and it's thought he could want to test free agency again as soon as after the 2026 season to maximize his earnings across what's already a generational career. 

If nothing else, Ohtani's camp has done a fantastic job of making suitors from around the country believe they're all realistic contenders to win his signature. Along with the Dodgers, Passan mentioned the World Series champion Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets as potential landing spots for the 29-year-old.

"If it's money he wants, nobody has more than New York Mets owner Steve Cohen," Passan added.