Shohei Ohtani’s free-agent signing may be holding up the market. And spring training is six weeks away. The situation is reminiscent of 2019, when Bryce Harper and Manny Machado didn’t sign until February. “Collusion” rumors are scarce now, despite the CBA running down. Despite having some concerns, top free agents like Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger are still available. Teams are hesitant due to age, performance, or injury concerns. Most big free agency deals come with an acceptance that the back end may not look so good. The implication is that there may be a cynical approach to spending on free agents. The article questions whether the current situation is collusion or logical.