As Blue Jays Eye Shohei Ohtani, $337 Million Reason Emerges for Toronto’s $500 Million Interest

USA out, Canada in. As the hot stove heats up with Shohei Ohtani news, the Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer the top favorites. The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as surprising dark horses, poised to win it all. But it’s not just Shotime’s two-way skills that the team is after.

For the first time in MLB history, Ohtani is set to sign a record deal worth well over $500 million. Even if his pitching abilities are limited until 2025, clubs want whatever unicorn abilities they can get their hands on. And apart from the batter’s box and the mound, signing Ohtani serves another huge purpose.

More than left-handed batting, Blue Jays counting on Shohei Ohtani’s market value

Two-way wonder, Japanese marvel, baseball’s unicorn – all these terms are used to refer to Shohei Ohtani, a singular sensation that baseball has never seen before. Whatever jersey colors the slugger wears next, he won’t only be leaving a legacy of baseball in the city he represents. No, Ohtani’s economic impact will take the cake, which is exactly what the Blue Birds are banking on.

The Blue Jays are in desperate need of left-handed hitters and Ohtani could join the likes of Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But a team that’s never paid luxury tax for payrolls is more than ready to sign on Ohtani for his value other than baseball.

Per an October 2022 study by Katsuhiro Miyamoto, prominent economist and Professor Emeritus at Kansai University, Shotime’s economic effects in 2022 reached approximately 45 billion Japanese Yen. The amount translates to an eye-popping 337 million US dollars.

Clearly, Ohtani in Toronto will not just be about baseball. Blue Jays owner Rogers Communication can essentially sign the ace as a brand ambassador. He will help sell not just jerseys and tickets but also ads and cellphones, as well as TV viewership. Rogers owns the broadcast rights to every Blue Jays game.

READ MORE – Why the Toronto Blue Jays Might Just Be the Perfect Landing Spot for Shohei Ohtani

Additionally, the telecommunications giant owns several non-baseball-related businesses, which a global athlete presence will directly impact. “You would see Ohtani in cable and wireless ads for Rogers’ core business. And even if you don’t, he’s playing down at the Rogers Centre on Rogers Sportsnet. On the Rogers Radio Network,” sports media analyst Adam Seaborn told CBC News.

For the Toronto Blue Jays, or rather owner Rogers Communication, a Shohei Ohtani deal is more about business than baseball. For a corporate giant, even signing Ohtani at $600 million won’t be too much of an ask because he will more than cover his costs.

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