MLB Insider Says Chicago Cubs Are Out of Race for Shohei Ohtani

The Chicago Cubs are now considered to be on the outside looking in during the race to sign Shohei Ohtani according to one MLB insider.

The Chicago Cubs entered the Winter Meetings with huge decisions. Whether the team wants to make a splash and contend is one thing, but who they go after is the bigger question. 

Of the available free agents and trade targets, the Cubs have been linked to the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Juan Soto. Three guys that aren't only going to help the team in the future, but guys that can significantly turn the franchise around immediately.

The front office made a major addition when making Craig Counsell the team's next manager and the highest-paid skipper in MLB history. Following that aggressive move, Chicago has no excuse but to spend money this offseason.

Why would they pay their manager that much and not make significant moves to their roster?

Unfortunately for Cubs fans, one name seems to be off the board. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Chicago's not in the running for Shohei Ohtani anymore.

"The Chicago Cubs’ optimism of landing Shohei Ohtani has now significantly waned, one high-ranking executive said, leaving the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants as the likely finalists."

While there are other moves for the Cubs to make, and this isn't a guarantee, losing out on Ohtani would be a big miss.

Chicago have everything to offer a superstar and Ohtani's obviously the best one to get. Missing out on him twice would be a major blow for the organization.

With this news coming out, it seems like the Cubs will have to pivot their attention to adding other players.