In a surprising turn of events at MLB’s Winter Meetings, LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed on Tuesday that the team has officially met with Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, marking the first public declaration of interest. The revelation comes despite Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, urging teams to keep negotiations confidential to avoid jeopardizing their chances.
The Dodgers’ openness about their pursuit of Ohtani has raised eyebrows among rival executives, with some speculating that this move indicates a high level of confidence within the Dodgers’ camp. One anonymous executive suggested that the Dodgers wouldn’t risk upsetting Ohtani’s agent unless they were confident about securing the prized player.
While the Dodgers’ public acknowledgement is the first concrete information in the highly publicized Ohtani free agency saga, not everyone is convinced that Los Angeles is a lock to sign the two-time AL MVP. An executive from a team reportedly in the running for Ohtani expressed reservations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining silence as instructed by Balelo. The executive suggested that the Dodgers may have hurt their chances by breaking the confidentiality protocol.
A Sportskeeda poll conducted among 10 executives at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort revealed varying opinions on Ohtani’s potential landing spot. Six executives leaned towards the Dodgers, three favoured the Toronto Blue Jays, and one daring prediction foresaw Ohtani re-signing with the LA Angels.
As the Ohtani sweepstakes continue, the baseball world awaits further developments and revelations regarding the coveted Japanese star’s future destination. The Dodgers’ bold move to publicly acknowledge their interest has added an intriguing layer to the ongoing negotiations, leaving fans and analysts alike eager to see how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks.
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