
Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts confirmed that the workforce met with Shohei Ohtani “a pair days in the past,” however that remark alone might have an effect on touchdown the extremely wanted free agent celebrity.
Ohtani owns MLB free company speak, particularly on the league’s Winter Conferences in Nashville this week. However the courting of Ohtani by groups that need his once-in-a-lifetime talents on the mound and within the batter’s field has been mum from potential golf equipment.
That’s till Roberts dropped what’s grow to be a bomb in free agent rumors regardless of it being a easy affirmation {that a} assembly occurred.
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Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels at third base through the Main League Baseball recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies on August 28, 2023 at Residents Financial institution Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
Why? Properly, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported earlier this week if Ohtani’s camp caught wind of a gathering with a workforce going public, he “will maintain it in opposition to the membership.”
Now, this wasn’t only a rumor from a reporter. The Dodgers’ supervisor was outright in saying it occurred, and added, “I believe it went effectively.”
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes was requested concerning the assembly because of Roberts’ feedback, which he acknowledged, saying, “Dave made a remark.” He was reportedly stunned that occurred, however when requested if Roberts’ feedback would harm the workforce’s pursuit, Gomes was succinct.
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“I do not know,” he responded.
Roberts defined why he believed his feedback concerning the assembly weren’t a giant deal.
“I don’t really feel like mendacity is one thing I do,” he informed the LA Instances. “I used to be requested a query. And yeah, I believe to be forthright on this state of affairs, we stored it quiet. Nevertheless it’s gonna come out sooner or later that we met. … So I don’t suppose myself or anybody else in our group would need to lie about it.”
Gomes wouldn’t make any feedback concerning the Ohtani assembly.
The Dodgers are one of many frontrunners to land Ohtani, who’s on the lookout for a record-setting contract in free company after successful his second AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels after belting 44 homers and slashing .304/.412/.654 with a 1.066 OPS, whereas additionally pitching to a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts over 132 innings.

Shohei Ohtani sits on the bench within the fourth inning throughout a recreation in opposition to the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (John McCoy/Getty Photographs)
Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in September, although, which ought to hold him off the mound till 2025. Nevertheless, Ohtani is anticipated to be freed from any restrictions hitting for the 2024 season.
Different groups within the working for Ohtani are the Toronto Blue Jays, who reportedly met with him at their spring coaching facility in Florida on Monday. Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider was coy when requested concerning the state of affairs, although.
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“It’s thrilling that we’re within the combine for it,” he informed TSN. “There’s a variety of other ways to make our workforce higher, however he’s clearly an amazing participant.”
The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs had been additionally talked about as potential aggressors within the Ohtani sweepstakes.
With the Winter Conferences in full swing, we’ll see if a record-breaking deal that Ohtani approves of comes this week. However, as we noticed with gamers like Aaron Decide final season, free company choices, particularly from these on the prime of the sport, might have some extra time to determine earlier than the brand new yr begins.

Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts watches from the dugout earlier than Sport 2 of a baseball NL Division Collection in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Mark J. Terrill)
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And Roberts will hope his feedback don’t have an effect on Ohtani’s choice when that point comes.