The biggest story of this offseason could be reaching its climax. Reports indicate that Shohei Ohtani might be close to signing with a team as soon as the winter meetings draw a close. After multiple teams showed their interest, seemingly right now, that number is down to two. One of those teams is as expected, while the other is a surprising addition to this narrative.

With every baseball fan looking with baited breaths, Ohtani has kept himself completely quiet. Though speculations were rife about what his priorities are, the reality is that not many know what is actually in the mind of the two-way phenom. Now with the two potential team names coming out, all it has done is increase the excitement among the fan base.

Toronto Blue Jays and LA Dodgers ahead in Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes

While there was some chatter about the Blue Jays pursuing the 2x AL MVP to come to Toronto, fans didn’t put them on the top of their lists. The Jays have all the capabilities and a big market, but they were considered being an under-the-radar team for Ohtani. That seems to be changing now, according to the radio personality Gabriel Morency.

Morency is a recognizable figure on ESPN programming and makes contributions to SportsGrid and Amazon Prime. “#Ohtani update….as expected cubs made an offer. it is believed by many that it’s down to dodgers and blue jays,” Morency recently tweeted. 

The Dodgers, considered frontrunners, have geographical advantages with Ohtani’s apparent preference for the Southern California region, consistent contention for the World Series, and significant financial resources, allowing them to present the most lucrative deal.

Although the LA Dodgers have been favorites since day one, the Blue Birds are a surprising addition to this race. Jays’ GM recently gave hints about their pursuit of Ohtani by saying how financially strong the team is. After all, the Blue Jays had the 10th largest payroll in 2023 of around $214 million, per the Beacher Report.

Read more: Shohei Ohtani Once Left Coaches and Teammates Stunned With His Ace Potential, Years Before His Unanimous MVPs

The entire country, being their market coupled with constant renovations to their infrastructure, does make the Jays an attractive option. They’re also a constant presence in the playoffs, having made it to it in 3 out of 4 previous seasons. This makes both these teams beneficial in their own ways.

Blue Jays or Dodgers, where will Shotime thrive more?

The Jays are a well-balanced squad, but they’re surely missing a big game changer. Undoubtedly, Ohtani can thrive in that role. The team is already making playoffs without Shotime, but they know with the two-way phenom they can clinch the World Series honor. This is something that the phenom might know as well.

In the case of the Dodgers, Ohtani will get to play near Anaheim. This will not disrupt his personal life, but professionally Dodgers could prove to be a little tricky. Though the team is a perennial favorite for playoffs, they are an aging squad.  Now only Shohei Ohtani can come to the forefront and take a strong decision to enter a team.

Watch This Story: Unveiling The Mets’ Secret Weapon: ‘Show Me The Money’ For Shohei Ohtani