The reigning NL East champion Atlanta Braves are still in the mix for Shohei Ohtani, Jon Morosi reported Monday morning on MLB Network.
The news adds to recent reporting from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who had confirmed the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels as teams still in the bidding.
“One team I think we have not been giving enough attention to in all of this, is the Atlanta Braves,” Morosi said. “In looking at his options, [Ohtani] has prioritized teams that have a chance to win sustainably.”
Atlanta has made the post-season in each of the six past years, advancing to the NLCS twice and claiming the World Series title in 2021. It has also won the NL East in all six of those seasons.
“The Braves, I’m told, have had some conversations with Ohtani’s camp, that the Braves have not been eliminated from this conversation,” Morosi continued from MLB’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. “At the very least, the Braves have … as good of a chance as the Cubs or the Blue Jays or many other of the non-Dodgers teams we’ve talked about this off-season.”
Morosi also cited Atlanta’s roster stability as something that could be attractive to Ohtani as he searches for his next team.
Much of the Braves’ young core has been locked up to long-term deals — with the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies all under contract through at least 2026.
Atlanta added another young piece late Sunday night, striking a deal with the Seattle Mariners for 24-year-old outfielder Jarred Kelenic.
“In so many ways, the Braves are not a team we can not overlook in the Ohtani sweepstakes,” Morosi said.
