Giants Legend Confirms All-Out Shohei Ohtani Approach, as Korean Star Inks $113 Million Pact

The San Francisco Giants are on cloud nine with the recent signing of Lee Jung-Hoo from Korea on a $113 million deal. But unfortunately, it doesn’t fill the wound of losing out on one of the best sluggers of this century. Shohei Ohtani‘s recent signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers left a spotlight beaming on the limits that can and cannot be crossed by a team. While they may be understandably upset, what do players have to say about it?

One of the biggest stars of the dugout, Buster Posey, is well on his way to becoming a permanent stakeholder in the team. The legendary catcher is still sorting his way around the balance sheets. And it looks like he already has some input to share regarding their recent missed chance on the two-way phenom.

Buster Posey on the missed Shohei Ohtani deal

From behind the batter’s box in a ballpark to behind a table full of executives, Buster Posey knows what a missed play feels like. “I just wanted the best chance we could possibly have and to push as hard as we possibly could to try to have Shohei be a San Francisco Giant,” Posey revealed to the Athletic. It was like salt on a wound already made by the loss of Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge’s failed signings.

It is not like the team didn’t have the money to afford Shohei Ohtani. San Fran reportedly offered him the same $700 million deal that his current team, the Dodgers, did. In the end, it was just made clear to the Giants that nothing could’ve changed the outcome.

The unfairness of the whole saga left most, if not all, of the executives seething in contempt. Especially given the fact that there was no more way left for the club to approach the ace. GM Farhan Zaidi couldn’t have agreed more.

Did the Giants try their best to clinch Ohtani?

The Giants have given Shotime multiple chances to side with them. They upped the offer value three times in a row and tried to meet all of the ace’s requests. They even tried accommodating him in their lineup with the best possible impression. But it still didn’t matter.

Read More: 2017 vs 2023: Inside Shohei Ohtani’s Shifting Priorities For His Next Deal

“Every financial target or request that was made from their camp was met and was met pretty quickly,” said Zaidi. Speaking of whether the team could’ve done it any better, Posey said, “I always wanted to feel when you’re done, win or lose, that you put it out there. I really feel like we did.”

Although the loss of Ohtani will be felt, the Giants will focus on building the rest of their roster as best as they can.

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