Bob Nightengale on the Timeline of Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency Decision, Cody Bellinger’s Future, MLB Trade Rumors, Free Agent News

Longtime USA Today national baseball writer and top news-breaker Bob Nightengale returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss the freshest MLB free agent and trade rumors, to go with the latest offseason news, leading up to next week's MLB winter meetings in Nashville.

 

Bob provides an inside look at Shohei Ohtani's free agent market. Bob lists the five teams that are making a serious push for Ohtani. Will Ohtani sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers or San Francisco Giants? Or will Ohtani re-sign with the Angels? Ohtani's camp has kept a tight lid on all of his contract negotiations. Bob discusses what is important to Ohtani as the two-time MVP enters free agency. Bob also notes why Ohtani may take a pass on the opportunity to pitch at Wrigley Field.

 

If the Cubs are unable to add Ohtani, how will they improve their roster this winter, in hopes of returning to the postseason for the first time in a 162-game season since 2018? What are the chances of the Cubs re-signing Cody Bellinger, and how is Bellinger's free agent market shaping up? Might Bellinger be joining the New York Yankees or San Francisco Giants? Will the Yankees instead trade for Juan Soto?

 

Bob explains how this winter's trade market appears to be more robust than the trade markets of winters past, as Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber, Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, Juan Soto, Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso's names have all appeared recently in trade rumors. Which of these players will be dealt, and which ones will remain with their respective teams? Bob and Jack break it all down.

 

Bob and Jack also discuss potential undervalued free agents that could be nice adds on short-term contracts. Bob provides a look at the free agent markets for Blake Snell, Marcus Stroman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Matt Chapman and many others. All this, and much more along the way!

 

You can follow Bob on Twitter (@BNightengale) and check out his work at USA Today.