Outlet names top favorite to sign Angels' Shohei Ohtani

Well-respected MLB insider Ken Rosenthal generated headlines on Tuesday when he named the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets as the favorites to sign Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in free agency.

It seems there's a definite front-runner heading into October. 

Per R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, "various front-office sources who have spoken to CBS Sports in recent weeks" say the Dodgers "are viewed as the current favorites to sign" Ohtani for multiple reasons. 

Anderson mentioned that "the Dodgers did not sign (and have not since traded for) a single player with a guaranteed contract for the 2024 season" since they seemingly began preparing last fall to pursue Ohtani. 

"That suggests (Dodgers president of baseball operations) Andrew Friedman and (executive vice president/general manager) Brandon Gomes wanted to keep their powder dry for an all-out pursuit this winter," Anderson continued. 

While rumors and stories have routinely indicated Ohtani prefers to stay on the West Coast, MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported earlier this month that "the potential to win championships will be given more weight than geography, as long as a team is willing to at least match the best offer (Ohtani) receives in free agency." With the Dodgers, Ohtani could find a best-of-both-worlds situation.

"Ohtani has repeatedly stated that his top goal is winning a World Series title," Anderson explained. "The Dodgers have captured only one of those in recent years (2020), but they've been the winningest regular-season team during the 'Pandemic Era' for a reason -- and they seem likely to remain a force."

The Dodgers began Wednesday at 97-60 and will enter the playoffs as the reigning National League West champions. 

Rosenthal has noted on numerous occasions he does not expect big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen to simply gift Ohtani to the Dodgers or any other team, and Anderson wrote the 29-year-old could still earn around $500M total from his next contract even though Ohtani likely won't pitch before 2025 coming off surgery he needed to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. 

It sounds like Cohen may have to do much more than just match whatever the Dodgers present Ohtani to win the services of baseball's unicorn.