Insider Delves into Reasons Behind Shohei Ohtani's Decision to Pass on the Yankees and Mets

 It seems the New York Yankees and New York Mets were never serious contenders to sign Shohei Ohtani in free agency, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman reported on Tuesday night that Ohtani had conveyed to an undisclosed "clubhouse source" during the 2023 season that he couldn't envision himself playing in New York. This sentiment mirrors what he had expressed to the Yankees six years ago before ultimately signing with the Los Angeles Angels.

The revelation comes after Yankees beat writer Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com pointed out earlier on Tuesday that the Yankees quickly realized Ohtani's lack of interest in playing for them, a sentiment unchanged since his arrival from Japan six years ago.

Heyman suggested that it might be reasonable to assume that both the Yankees and Mets never had a realistic chance of signing Ohtani. Instead, both teams are reportedly setting their sights on Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Additionally, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Wednesday morning that the Yankees could finalize a trade for San Diego Padres All-Star outfielder Juan Soto before Thursday.

Ohtani is currently linked to a return to the Los Angeles Angels, as well as potential moves to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays. Heyman noted that the Dodgers have been considered the front-runners for Ohtani for about a year, partly because he enjoys living in Southern California. However, Heyman mentioned that the Blue Jays could be a contender due to Toronto being "not New York as a media center," and Ohtani's preference for a quieter environment.