NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Word is finally out that superstar free agent Shohei Ohtani met with at least the Dodgers, Jays and Giants. Though it isn’t known yet who leads among those three finalists, plus the Cubs and Angels, a clubhouse source told The Post Ohtani told him during the season that he liked the idea of going to at least the Dodgers or Jays if he left the Angels.
It isn’t known what other teams Ohtani may have singled out for preference, but the clubhouse source added that Ohtani specifically said he couldn’t see himself playing in New York, which is also what he told the Yankees six years ago before signing with the Angels. (Ohtani’s handlers say no such sentiment was expressed to the Yankees or Mets during the process this time.)
However, it seems logical to think the Yankees and Mets may never have had a realistic shot at maybe the greatest player ever. Neither team seems too involved, as both are concentrating on another Japanese star, Yoshinobu Yamamato, the right-handed pitcher who’s coveted by every big-market team.
The Dodgers have been seen going on a year as the favorite for Ohtani, as they cleared payroll space in preparation for this pursuit, they are baseball’s most consistent winner and — clubhouse source or not — word is going around Ohtani likes southern California.
The Jays have an interesting case, and they tried to bolster it by showing Ohtani their state-of-the-art training facility at their spring home in Dunedin, Fla., as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported. The Jays wouldn’t be the first guess for Ohtani based on the far different locale from Anaheim, but there’s plenty of reason they want him. Beyond the fact that the Jays haven’t been able to get over the postseason hump, there’s plenty of room for Ohtani to enhance their bottom line since even $300 million in Rogers Centre upgrades haven’t filled the house.
From Ohtani’s perspective, an entire nation could be his market, not just a very big city, and Toronto is just that. It’s also not New York as a media center, and he seems to like to keep things quiet.
Speaking of which, beloved Dodgers manager Dave Roberts became the first person involved in the Ohtani Sweepstakes to publicly utter a candid word, saying aloud that not only did the Dodgers meet with Ohtani at Dodger Stadium a few days ago but that he’s their No. 1 priority.
Word has gotten out that Ohtani’s camp at CAA, led by Nez Balelo, told Ohtani entrants they shouldn’t reveal any information regarding the pursuit, and that if anyone does, it wouldn’t be looked upon kindly. A CAA person didn’t repeat that admonishment when asked about it following Roberts’ surprising fit of honesty, but Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes didn’t repeat Roberts’ admission, declining to get into Ohtani specifics.
It would be beyond ridiculous for Ohtani or his camp to count as a demerit Roberts admitting what everyone assumed anyway. If anything, the universally liked Roberts is a reason to join the Dodgers, not the opposite, and CAA surely knows that.
While the CAA group isn’t speaking, it was denied that the Cubs have been informed they are out of the running. One report said that they were out but didn’t actually specify why that was the case, or whether the Cubs knew.
The Giants are practically in the business of attempting to woo superstars, and while there is plenty to like about that organization, there’s speculation that Oracle Park, which is tough on left-handed-hitting sluggers, may be a deterrent to Ohtani. They were still believed in the running, as are the incumbent Angels of Anaheim, where Ohtani has enjoyed his first six seasons, even though they’ve failed to post a winning record.
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