MLB General Manager Meeting struck by sickness

MLB's General Managers are challenged with key challenge at the moment, and it isn't how much they have to fork out to pay for Shohei Ohtani's services. 30 attendees at the latest meeting have all been hit by stomach sickness.

For now, it's unclear who or how the bug has spread but it's possible it was transmitted in breakout sessions or the cafeteria, particularly as many of the sick enjoyed a buffet on Tuesday, November 7.

No new people have reported sick on November 8, giving credence to the notion that it is a food poisoning situation but if many more people catch the bug then MLB might shut down meetings to prevent the spread.

Food caters have now been mandated to wear gloves and masks and executives have been banned from serving themselves, with the league sending a memo to teams to order them to report illness for containment.

Some managers have even skipped eating at the site. For example, New York Yankees' Brian Cashman decided to go and get a burger instead on Wednesday.

How much will Shohei Ohtani cost?

Despite being offered a $30m qualifying offer to remain in the Anaheim part of California, the Los Angeles Angels are set to lose the fantastic Shohei Ohtani to another franchise in a devastating blow to their odds of competing for baseball glory in the future.

The offer is expected to be little more than a formality as the Japanese 29-year-old is set to reject the deal and seek pastures new as he embarks on a journey with a different MLB franchise.

Perhaps no shock to anyone is that the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in hiring his services, but it's estimated that he could command a staggering $400m or even $500m contract offer to pick up baseball's hottest talent.

The Dodgers aren't shy of splashing the cash, after hiring Freddie Freeman from the Atlanta Braves for $162m in 2022 and extending Mookie Betts' deal to $365m in 2020.