Agent Gives Scoop On How Cubs Fit In Ohtani's Free Agency Decision

The Chicago Cubs were one of the teams fully in pursuit of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in free agency.
Agent Gives Scoop On How Cubs Fit In Ohtani's Free Agency Decision
Agent Gives Scoop On How Cubs Fit In Ohtani's Free Agency Decision /
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The Chicago Cubs were all in on Shohei Ohtani. In fact, they were a finalist.

In an exclusive interview with USA Today, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo described the entire process around Ohtani’s free agency.

He also confirmed the long-suspected finalists — the Cubs, the Los Angeles Angels, the Toronto Blue Jays, the San Francisco Giants and the ultimate winner, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So the Cubs were never out on Ohtani, as some have reported.

What was revealing about the conversation was the approach Balelo took on behalf of Ohtani, who decided during Spring Training that he wanted to explore free agency.

First, Balelo used the GM meetings in Arizona, right after the World Series, as a way determining who was kicking the tires and who was truly serious. He was at a separate hotel from the meetings, but that was only to facilitate meetings with team executives.

Second, while Balelo asked teams to keep the conversations private, there was never an edict that it the teams talked about their pursuit that would hurt their chances of landing Ohtani. The evidence? Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed their meeting and Ohtani signed there anyway, Balelo said.

Third, the deferred money in the record-setting deal — $680 million of Ohtani’s $700 million contract — is owed to him after the 10-year deal ends was indeed Ohtani’s idea.

“(It was) the most incredible act of unselfishness and willingness to win that I’ve ever experienced in my life, or ever will,” Balelo said. “He did not care at all about the present value inflation. And you know what, neither did I. He should be praised for this. He did not want to handcuff a team with his salary. He said, ’How can I contribute to a team and allow them to stay competitive?’ So he took the most unselfish approach possible and deferred everything.”

Fourth, the Dodgers never came to Balelo and Ohtani with a late offer. As Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi confirmed their offer to Ohtani was the exact same offer as the Dodgers. Ohtani simply preferred the Dodgers — and the Angels preferred not to match the deferred money.

Finally, it was Balelo who broke the bad news to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer after Ohtani chose the Dodgers.

How Ohtani’s free agency developed is exactly how Balelo and, more importantly, his client, wanted it.

“Shohei and I wanted to control the narrative and teams were on board with it,” Balelo said.

The Cubs still have areas to address in free agency, most notably their corner infield spots, their bullpen and perhaps one more starting pitcher for a team that was in contention for an NL Wild Card spot in the final week of the regular season.

Ohtani won’t pitcher in 2024, due to recovery from a procedure to repair his torn UCL, the second such procedure he’s had in his MLB career. He will be a designated hitter in 2024, and he intends to pitch again in 2025.

Ohtani finished 2023 with a slash line of .304/.412/.654/1.066 with 44 home runs and 95 RBI, with his homers leading the American League. As a pitcher he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts and 55 walks. He was the 2023 AL MVP, his second such award. 


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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.