The MLB offseason is in full swing, with rumors and predictions coming at us on a daily basis. Although nothing substantial has actually happened yet, it's only a matter of time before the dominos start falling.
As for right now, while the Philadelphia Phillies haven't made any significant moves yet, you can be sure that discussions are happening.
Here's a roundup of what we've heard that might affect the Phillies in their pursuit of roster improvements for 2024.
Shohei Ohtani landing spot updates
It feels like everyone is waiting for Shohei Ohtani to decide where to play for probably the next decade. The biggest fish in the sea of free agents is obviously every team's top choice, although only a few have a realistic shot at landing him.
If you feel like you haven't heard as much as you thought you might, considering the stature of the most important free agent in MLB history, you would be correct. As reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN earlier this week, things are being kept hush-hush by Ohtani's camp on purpose.
"If there is one thing to know about Shohei Ohtani's free agency, it's that you are unlikely to know much about it until he signs somewhere," Passan says. "If visits between Ohtani and a team are reported publicly, it will be held against the team, so the circles will be tiny and tight."
Passan has also let everyone know that "The expectation among teams involved is that Ohtani could move relatively quickly — perhaps even before the Dec. 4-7 winter meetings... "
So, where does that leave the Phillies? There have been no murmurs out of the front office about pursuing Ohtani, but based on Passan's report, that doesn't mean they're not in contact with the Japanese phenom.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that Ohtani is "probably less concerned about geography and more concerned about the quality of the team that he is going to."
"He (Shohei Ohtani) is probably less concerned about geography and more concerned about the quality of the team he is going to."@jonmorosi shares what the GM meetings revealed about Ohtani's approach to free agency. pic.twitter.com/h1xioxMPos
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 13, 2023
That's good news for the Phillies if they are indeed attempting to ink the two-way star. With a trip to the World Series in 2022 and a close call in the NLCS this past season, Ohtani could do worse than don the red pinstripes.
Don't hold your breath, though.