The Los Angeles Dodgers have seemed just like the frontrunner within the race for MLB star Shohei Ohtani after supervisor Dave Roberts confirmed earlier this week that the group had met with him and that the dialog “went well.”
Nevertheless, the Toronto Blue Jays are apparently proper there within the combine.
From left to proper, Anaheim Angels normal supervisor Perry Minasian, Shohei Ohtani and Phil Nevin at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Sept. 30, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Photographs)
The Japanese celebrity has reportedly requested privateness as he navigates his choice, however that has not stopped the hypothesis as Ohtani is anticipated to signal a document contract of $500 million-plus on the free agent market, in keeping with The Related Press.
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“The Blue Jays, out of nowhere, have made a really strong run at Ohtani, and I’m not sure they’re considered the favorites at this point because this whole thing has been under a shroud of secrecy,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan stated Thursday throughout an look on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, acknowledged a couple of days ago that the Dodgers had met with Ohtani and pearls were being clutched everywhere because frankly, Ohtani and his camp went to everyone before the process started and said ‘We don’t want any leaks. We don’t want this in the media. We want no acknowledgment that this historic free agency is happening right now.’”
Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts watches from the dugout earlier than Recreation 2 of a baseball NL Division Collection towards the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
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In response to The Athletic, Ohtani is believed to have met with the Blue Jays at their spring coaching advanced in Florida on Monday – though there was no affirmation from the group, in contrast to with the Dodgers.
The sensitivity of those talks has been a degree of competition across the league.
The Athletic reported that Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, warned that any leaks may very well be held towards groups.
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“We want to respect Shohei’s wishes as far as being private,” Roberts revealed at Tuesday’s winter conferences, “but obviously people talk. I don’t think I need to share what we talked about.”
“Yeah, we met with him,” he continued. “I don’t want to — I’d like to be honest and so we met with Shohei and we talked and I think it went well. I think it went well. But at the end of the day, he’s his own man and he’s going to do what’s best for himself, where he feels most comfortable.”
Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani, #17, in motion, reacts along with his hand vs Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen Financial institution Park. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Photographs)
Dodgers normal supervisor Brandon Gomes stated later he was “surprised” Roberts shared information of the assembly.
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Ohtani led the AL with 44 homers and hit .304 with 96 RBIs, eight triples and 20 stolen bases for the Los Angeles Angels in a season that ended Sept. 3 due to an indirect damage.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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