12 Years and $500 Million: Shohei Ohtani is ‘Very Close’ to Toronto as Free Agency Nears Final Historic Stage

It’s been a while since Shohei Ohtani’s 6-year-long run with the Los Angeles Angels has come to an end. That has opened up a plethora of possibilities for the two-way phenom. After multiple discussions and speculations, if one were to filter out, the likely option turns out to be the Toronto Blue Jays. This too, however, is only the best possible guess. 

Well, there have been multiple reports stating that filtering down to the Blue Jays is a safe bet at this final stage of free agency. However, there is more than one factor to be considered, as the most lucrative deal is about to get closed. Is a $500 million deal incoming? 

A Background on Why Shohei Ohtani Is the Hottest Topic This off Season

Shohei Ohtani, the two-time and current MLB Most Valuable Player, who has been compared to Babe Ruth and Bullet Rogan, is soon to reveal the much-awaited details to the league as he decides on his next destination. It sure has been a long wait after an intense pursuit by every MLB team. Especially by the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants, the Angels, and the Chicago Cubs.

Talks exist that the upcoming deal could surpass Mike Trout’s majestic 12-year, $426.5 million deal with the Halos. To no surprise, the well-deserved Ohtani has contributed to the scoreboard like none other. He just finished his best season to date with an OPS of 1.066 and 44 home runs. Additionally, a 95 runs batted in, 26 doubles, 8 triples, and 20 stolen bases have been some stellar numbers. All that, despite a premature exit in 2023. 

It is also to note that in 132 innings pitched; he struck out 167 batters with an ERA of 3.14, demonstrating his effectiveness on the mound as well. Speaking of the mound, he is most likely not to pitch again in 2024 owing to his recent procedure. However, that does not undermine his might in any sense. While he recovers completely in the upcoming year, teams are convinced that their ROI would skyrocket in the future with Ohtani onboard. To this, the Blue Jays have been paying close attention. 

Why Does the World Believe It’s Going to Be the Toronto Blue Jays?

Well, when it comes to the unicorn, all he needs is privacy. As someone who demands his privacy to be respected, he might have put some of his suitors to test. Conjecture says that maybe possible teams messed up by compromising on this ask. Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Shohei Ohtani met with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at the winter meetings. 

Roberts’ words were that Ohtani has a “very good poker face,” which kept the manager from drawing any conclusions from the almost three-hour meeting. He eventually also revealed, “Yeah, we met with him. 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“. The Dodgers may have triggered doubt in the 2x MVP with that. 

In addition to that, the San Francisco Giants haven’t officially acknowledged or denied a meeting with Ohtani at Oracle Park last Saturday, despite the team’s leadership, including new manager Bob Melvin and part-owner Buster Posey, being present. The only two other teams left in contention (potentially) are the Chicago Cubs, whose chances seem 50-50 as per old and new reports and the Angels who (potentially) might not be able to afford a ‘Troutani’ in 2024. All this evidence based on guesses could strengthen the case that the Blue Birds might actually land the star for 12 years. 

Toronto Blue Jays – Shohei Ohtani Union Could Be a Win-Win

If one thinks about it deeply enough, this deal could mean a quintessential ‘win-win’ scenario. As Toronto begins its countdown, excitement spurts. Here’s a contributing factor.

Watch This Story : Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream: Before Injury, He Always Wanted Both!

This only non-American team in MLB may see an increase in attention from abroad as a result of Ohtani’s move. From a business perspective, Ohtani’s decision may increase demand for Jays tickets at Rogers Centre games. This could benefit Rogers Communications, the team’s owner, by increasing sales of merchandise and food. The head of the sports and entertainment marketing firm MKTG Canada, Brian Cooper, said to CBC News, “And as a result, you get more sponsors that say, ‘I want to be a part of this‘”.

The other reason is Shohei Ohtani’s career aspirations itself. While his previous free agency was driven by a desire to play in the big leagues and make a name, his current free agency is driven by a renewed goal. As someone who wants to establish his path in a team that can make it to the playoffs, he could leverage the nurturing environment of the Blue Jays, while also making good money over a period of excess of 10 years.

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