Shohei Ohtani Signs Historic 10-Year, $700 Million Contract with Los Angeles Dodgers
After much speculation and anticipation, two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani has officially made his decision on where he will play in 2024 and beyond. The superstar free agent has agreed to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending months of rumors and rumors about his next move in the MLB.
The San Francisco Giants were heavily pursuing Ohtani this offseason and were thought to be one of the final teams in the running for his services. However, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Angels were the final three teams Ohtani was considering before ultimately choosing the Dodgers.
Heyman mentioned that the Dodgers did not know they were getting Ohtani until very late in the process. He also revealed that the Blue Jays and Angels were also finalists, while the Giants and the Chicago Cubs were not among the final teams in the running for Ohtani.
For the Giants, who have finished second in the pursuit of superstar players in the past, the news might be disappointing for their star-hungry fan base. It remains to be seen when exactly the Giants and the Cubs were officially out of the running for Ohtani, but it appears they did not advance to the final stages of the negotiations.
For fans of the orange and black, finishing fourth or fifth in the Ohtani Sweepstakes might sting a little less than finishing second, but it’s still a loss that will surely be felt. With the Dodgers securing Ohtani’s services, the Giants will have to look elsewhere to bolster their roster for the 2024 season.
As Ohtani officially joins the Dodgers, it marks a significant shift in the NL West and sets the stage for an even more competitive division in the coming years. For the Dodgers, securing Ohtani’s signature is a major win, while for the Giants, it’s back to the drawing board in their quest for a superstar addition to their roster.