Coveted pitcher-outfielder Shohei Ohtani has informed the New York Yankees that they will not be among the teams invited to in-person presentations next week, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.
Once considered one of the front-runners to land the two-way phenom, partially due to having one of the larger reserves of international bonus pool money, the decision is a disappointment for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Cashman was told Ohtani's preference is a small-market, West Coast team - but not the Oakland Athletics - according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Here's an updated list of teams out of the running:
- Arizona Diamondbacks (source)
- Atlanta Braves (source)
- Boston Red Sox (source)
- Chicago White Sox (source)
- Milwaukee Brewers (source)
- Minnesota Twins (source)
- New York Mets (source)
- New York Yankees (source)
- Oakland Athletics (source)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (source)
- St. Louis Cardinals (source)
- Tampa Bay Rays (source)
- Toronto Blue Jays (source)
- Washington Nationals (source)
The Seattle Mariners are one of the teams gearing up for a run at Ohtani, and have requested that several of their current players put their plans on hold and be part of next week's presentations.
Seattle's effort has potentially impressed Ohtani and his reps. The Mariners, along with the San Francisco Giants, are among the finalists to sign the prize of the offseason, sources tell Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.
