Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Latest on Dodgers’ and Blue Jays’ Chances Via ESPN
We are all on Shohei Ohtani watch these days, and it feels like he’s been a free agent for months. In reality, he’s only been free to sign anywhere for about five weeks, but he’s been holding up a large stack of free-agent dominos waiting to fall.
The Dodgers are in on the Ohtani sweepstakes, of course. Manager Dave Roberts even confirmed the team met with him last week.
Roberts’ comments weren’t met too well by Dodgers executives. No other team officials have spoken publicly about Ohtani, whose camp had previously asked to keep all meetings private. Whether or not the mere admission of an in-person meeting constituted a “leak” remains a matter of debate among anxious fans.
Nobody really knows much about the free agency of Ohtani, which is by design. ESPN’s Jeff Passan appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday and provided the latest update on the Ohtani free agency sweepstakes.
“The favorites from the beginning, AJ, have been the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Passan said. “Ohtani is familiar with Southern California.”
Per Jeff Passan on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN on Thursday
The Dodgers have long been thought of as the favorites to sign Ohtani, and perhaps that hasn’t changed since the 2023 season ended — despite Ohtani meeting with other clubs and winnowing his group of finalists to five or fewer.
In another development, the Dodgers reportedly asked pitcher Joe Kelly to give up his number-17 jersey if they were to sign Ohtani. Team officials must believe they have a good chance of signing Ohtani; why else would they ask a player to surrender his jersey in favor of someone who isn’t on the team?
The biggest threat to the Dodgers could be the Toronto Blue Jays, based on recent reports. Industry sources indicate the Blue Jays like their chances, perhaps putting them neck and neck with the Dodgers in the Ohtani sweepstakes.
Passan provided an update on their chances as well.
“The interesting thing, though, is what the Toronto Blue Jays have done. The Blue Jays, out of nowhere, have made a really strong run at Ohtani, and I’m not sure if they’re considered the favorites at this point because this whole thing has been under a shroud of secrecy.”
Per Jeff Passan on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN on Thursday
Toronto has been pushing very hard to land Ohtani, giving the Dodgers a run for their money. Ohtani is said to be intrigued by the thought of playing for Canada’s only baseball team, which has reached the postseason in three of the last four seasons.
Although reports have indicated the Angels and Giants might still be in the running, the Blue Jays and Dodgers might be the last teams standing for Ohtani. We are heading into what feels like the endgame right now, and it’s expected that the two-way superstar will be making his decision by the end of the weekend.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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For the record, I am also happy to relinquish my uniform number to Shohei.
I think Ohtani’s agent is just trying to drive up the offer from the Dodgers by getting the Blue Jays to say they are involved. Going to Canada would be a big blow to his actual salary because Canada taxes any portion of his salary while playing in Canada. If he is signed by the Dodger this will rarely happen. If he is signed by the Blue Jays he will lose a big chunk of his proposed salary to taxes, This was explained by the MBA when Raptor players not living in Canada became concerned about their notice of Canadia income tax rule became apparent.
I think the Blue Jay rumors are a ploy to get his Dodger salary as high as possible by his agent since it has dropped from 600K to 500 K because of his injury that will keep him from pitching next year. Were he to sign with Toronto his salary would take a huge income tax hit whether he lived in Canada or not since he would have to play at least half his games there for which he would be taxed. With the Dodgers that would be a lot less or none at all, depending on the schedule
Maybe Shohei likes maple syrup more than was thought.
He can wear any number on any given night if he comes up to the great white north ! And I will personally tap every maple tree in the GTA ! He would be loved by a nation and quite literally change baseball in Canada probably for generations!
He will come to Toronto on the Dodgers plane.
You won’t have to wait long Shohei will arrive in Toronto on the Dodgers plane for games April 26-27-28.
Don’t understand estimate the allure of Toronto. We are the 3rd largest city in North America with a diverse population with a 70 million dollar renovation to our dome stadium. Also, the entire country, 39 million stand behind the Blue Jays franchise. This great talent had a chance to come to the Dodgers when he first arrived and chose the Angels instead. Why in the name of Tom Lasorda would he chose the Dodgers now.
Do a little research. When he originally signed with the Angels it was primarily because at that time there was no DH in the National League. Playing for the Dodgers then would have greatly hampered in true talents.