Angels Suddenly Emerging as Favorite for Shohei Ohtani According to MLB Insiders

Is a reunion incoming?

The Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes are in full swing, and so far none of the news has faered well for the Halos... until now. After the first day of the winter meetings, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com gave Angels fans some optimism,

“I think the Angels are very much in this. And in the last 24 hours, I’ve had several people they tell me they think he will ultimately go back to the Angels.”

Via 

Mark Feinsand on MLB Network

Mark Feinsand on the #Angels and Shohei Ohtani:

“I think the Angels are very much in this. And in the last 24 hours, I’ve had several people they tell me they think he will ultimately go back to the Angels.” https://t.co/4EpUFVyp4h

— BTH (@BeyondTheHalo) December 5, 2023

The longer this free agency has gone on, the more a return does not seem impossible. 

Everyone at this point is speculating about where Ohtani will sign. What we do know, though, is that Ohtani is a player of habit and comfort. Nowhere in MLB would be more comfortable than for him to stay with the team.

Pair this with a quote by Halos' new manager Ron Washington, and hope continues to spring eternal. When asked about a possible Ohtani signing, he had this to say,

"I don't have much to say about that yet because I don't want to let anything out of the bag."

That certainly sounds like something could be in the works between the club and Ohtani's camp.

Arte Moreno has shown a willingness to pay for talent, that much cannot be denied. Hopefully, he does that one more time to keep the superstar in Anaheim.