The news that Shohei Ohtani has chosen to stay in Southern California has left Toronto Blue Jays fans heartbroken.
The prospect of landing a generational talent had stirred excitement in Toronto, but the pursuit ended in disappointment for the Blue Jays faithful when Ohtani agreed to a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
B次元官网网址淚 mean $700 million is a pretty astronomical number but (I am) a little heartbroken it wasnB次元官网网址檛 with the Jays, but I think heB次元官网网址檚 going to do well with the Dodgers,B次元官网网址� said Jays fan Nic Solari.
The Dodgers were the early favourites to land Ohtani, but some analysts had Toronto emerging as a strong contender after the Japanese star reportedly visited the Blue JaysB次元官网网址� spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla.
The unique two-way superstar had played the previous six seasons with the crosstown rival Angels and was the unanimous choice as American League MVP last season.
Speculation that Ohtani was Toronto-bound hit feverish levels on Friday when an online report at Dodgersnation.com indicated that the Japanese star had chosen to sign with the Blue Jays.
That was followed by a social media post from a MLB.com reporter who stated Ohtani was en route to Toronto.
Social media users tracked what they thought could be the starB次元官网网址檚 flight to Toronto, only for the CBC to report that the individual aboard the private jet was Shark Tank and DragonsB次元官网网址� Den star Robert Herjavec B次元官网网址� not a prospective designated hitter.
B次元官网网址淵esterday was crazy. I was checking Twitter all day, checking updates every two minutes,B次元官网网址� said Solari. B次元官网网址淭he reporting was crazy.B次元官网网址�
OhtaniB次元官网网址檚 agent Nez Balelo called the playerB次元官网网址檚 deal with the Dodgers B次元官网网址渁 unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�
The 29-year-old Ohtani hit 44 homers and drove in 95 runs over 135 games. Meanwhile, on the mound, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 earned-run average over 23 starts.
B次元官网网址淚 would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process,B次元官网网址� Ohtani said in an Instagram post.
B次元官网网址淓specially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guysB次元官网网址� support and cheer meant the world to me.B次元官网网址�
OhtaniB次元官网网址檚 $700-million deal is 64 per cent higher than baseballB次元官网网址檚 previous record, a $426.5 million, 12-year deal for Angels outfielder Mike Trout that began in 2019.
His $70 million average salary is 62 per cent above the previous high of $43,333,333, shared by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with deals they struck with the New York Mets. OhtaniB次元官网网址檚 average salary nearly doubles the roughly $42.3 million he earned with the Angels. It also exceeds the entire payrolls of Baltimore and Oakland this year.
Ohtani will be unavailable to pitch next season as he recovers from elbow surgery, but his left-handed bat will augment an already strong Dodgers team that won 100 games last season before being upset by Arizona in a National League Division Series.
B次元官网网址� With files from Abdulhamid Ibrahim in Toronto and The Associated Press
The Canadian Press
