✹The PERENNIAL Shohei Ohtani Thread✹

[BBases31]

Originally Posted by anusinha

I give it a 95% chance he ends up on the Dodgers and a 5% chance he stays with the Angels. Mainly because Arte knows that if he is in Dodger Blue the Angels become completely irrelevant and lose a ton of franchise value. I know Ohtani says he wants to win, but its one thing to say that and another to turn down a metric ton of money to actually do it.

Ohtani turned down over $100 million when he first came into the league. And that was before he had his first MLB paycheck which was the league minimum

[Trueblue]

You guys should really watch the documentary. He is the ultimate creature of comfort and even says that he was raised to do what feels right, as things will work themselves out. That includes signing with the Angels.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by BBases31

You can predict the ballpark outcome, down to a few teams, based on everything we've known up until a few months ago, including his last round of free agency:

1. We know he doesn't care about money.
2. We know winning is his #1 priority by a mile.
3. We know he puts tremendous value on a West Coast team.
4. And we know he does not like being in the spotlight as he was the only player in the MLB that was allowed to avoid regular media availability without penalty postgame and he did it alot).

What we don't know is if #4 is enough for him to avoid the Dodgers. Or if with the Mariners if following Ichiro's legacy is a positive or dealbreaker(if he wants to be the God, not sharing the role of God for a franchise). We don't know if #3 is enough to avoid the Braves with how well set up they are for years at #2. There are plenty of unknowns. But the main pieces to get down to a small circle of teams are there

Well if 4 is true, ny is def out.

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[jackwesq]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Like if the French Laundry was willing to pay you $500k to be a sous chef, but then the local McDonalds countered with 800k to be the fry chef, you'd have to think about it.

That might be the only time The French Laundry is mentioned in the same sentence of McDonald's.

P.S. I'd go with The French Laundry without hesitation and wouldn't give it a second thought.

[NYBBFAN]

Ain’t nobody gonna eat at no damn dry cleaners

[hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by BBases31

You can predict the ballpark outcome, down to a few teams, based on everything we've known up until a few months ago, including his last round of free agency:

1. We know he doesn't care about money.
2. We know winning is his #1 priority by a mile.
3. We know he puts tremendous value on a West Coast team.
4. And we know he does not like being in the spotlight as he was the only player in the MLB that was allowed to avoid regular media availability without penalty postgame and he did it alot).

What we don't know is if #4 is enough for him to avoid the Dodgers. Or if with the Mariners if following Ichiro's legacy is a positive or dealbreaker(if he wants to be the God, not sharing the role of God for a franchise). We don't know if #3 is enough to avoid the Braves with how well set up they are for years at #2. There are plenty of unknowns. But the main pieces to get down to a small circle of teams are there

So he really thought his best chance to win in 2018 was with the Angels?

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[JWBlue]

Mariners

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

So he really thought his best chance to win in 2018 was with the Angels?

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Keep in mind he was limited to AL teams...

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by JRX

Well if 4 is true, ny is def out.

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This is what I've been saying. He wants no part of that mess, esp in the Bronx.

[Stringmusic]

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Ain’t nobody gonna eat at no damn dry cleaners

[JWBlue]

Question for anyone that has opened a 2018 Angels team set.

Where in the stack is Ohtani? Why are those cards so damaged?

I would like to buy one off eBay but wondering if they are searched. Is it possible to see damage from the side of the blister?

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Question for anyone that has opened a 2018 Angels team set.

Where in the stack is Ohtani? Why are those cards so damaged?

I would like to buy one off eBay but wondering if they are searched. Is it possible to see damage from the side of the blister?

They rattle like tic tacs. Yes, you can see the corners.

[redauto5]

Just saw a post on a Shohei FB group (it's since been removed) regarding his landing spot in FA. Obviously 99.9% chance fake news, .1% chance something leaked.

Apparently the posters friend is a sports agent, and he knows Shohei was very close to becoming a Texas Ranger but has decided against it - now there's only 2 teams left in the running, the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. According to this agent, Shohei is going to sign a 2 year, $100 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Teehee.

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[BBases31]

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

So he really thought his best chance to win in 2018 was with the Angels?

Do you follow baseball or just cards? There was no universal DH back then. He had to go to an AL team. For west coast he only had three choices and the A's and Mariners were both worse

[JRX]

Originally Posted by hammertime

This is what I've been saying. He wants no part of that mess, esp in the Bronx.

Bronx or Flushing doesn't matter when it comes to the media in ny. It's non stop.

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[Trueblue]

I don't think there's a scenario where Sho doesn't have twenty Japanese reporters on his ass everyday. The main question is how is the organization going to help shield him from the drama. If it's free for all, you're on your own, he's clearly going to pass. Angels are the other end of the spectrum. I'm sure he'd be willing to meet halfway.

[hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by BBases31

Do you follow baseball or just cards? There was no universal DH back then. He had to go to an AL team. For west coast he only had three choices and the A's and Mariners were both worse

Ah! So winning matters first and foremost 100% by a mile, but only on the west coast. Got it. Makes alot of sense. Thank goodness you were here to explain it to me.

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[JRX]

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

Ah! So winning matters first and foremost 100% by a mile, but only on the west coast. Got it. Makes alot of sense. Thank goodness you were here to explain it to me.

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Well dodgers are better run than yankees so no need for east coast. Other option is to go full Durant and just sign with texas.

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[JWBlue]

Originally Posted by redauto5

According to this agent, Shohei is going to sign a 2 year, $100 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Teehee.

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This sounds so unbelievable it might be true. It also makes some sense. Just wants to win I guess and is a free agent again after pitching in 2025.

[Trueblue]

The only thing that doesn't make me dismiss the Blue Jays is access to that player development complex in Dunedin. There's no better place for a rebuilding pitcher to rehab, amongst other things. I think this rumor is BS, but bluejays as contenders are not. He really wants to continue as a TWP.

[BBases31]

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

Ah! So winning matters first and foremost 100% by a mile, but only on the west coast. Got it. Makes alot of sense. Thank goodness you were here to explain it to me.

You're reading comprehension is getting better! In his initial free agency he only wanted a west coast team. How hard is this? It sounds like you didn't follow Ohtani much at all when he came into the league

[hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by BBases31

You're reading comprehension is getting better! In his initial free agency he only wanted a west coast team. How hard is this? It sounds like you didn't follow Ohtani much at all when he came into the league

2. We know winning is his #1 priority by a mile

So those are your words. Seems to me west coast was his "#1 priority" --- if winning was really "#1" he could've went to Tampa, Houston maybe back then. But you made the call on him so I defer to your inner circle knowledge.

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[BBases31]

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

2. We know winning is his #1 priority by a mile

So those are your words. Seems to me west coast was his "#1 priority" --- if winning was really "#1" he could've went to Tampa, Houston maybe back then. But you made the call on him so I defer to your inner circle knowledge.

That list was for what we know about what he wants out of his current free agency. Initial free agency he would only play for a west coast team

[hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

This sounds so unbelievable it might be true. It also makes some sense. Just wants to win I guess and is a free agent again after pitching in 2025.

Seems feasible I agree---but that's still a crapload of guaranteed $$ he would potentially leave on the table.....I bet Artie has a mammoth offer to keep him.

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[BiggNuttz]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

The only thing that doesn't make me dismiss the Blue Jays is access to that player development complex in Dunedin. There's no better place for a rebuilding pitcher to rehab, amongst other things. I think this rumor is BS, but bluejays as contenders are not. He really wants to continue as a TWP.

Rumour has it that Shohei has decided against the Blue Jays for two reasons:

A) ThoseBackPages could not afford an entire wardrobe of new pants, as he would ruin every pair he has thinking about Vladdy and Shohei in the same batting order!

B) Shohei does not want to ruin his legacy, since he has read all 3,781 posts by BBases31 of minor league parks and stat padding. He will only play for a team with a 500+ foot right field wall to avoid an asterisk next to his stats.