#BlueJays did not make the cut on Shohei Ohtani.
Blue Jays Are Out Of the Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes (But Thankfully So Are the Yankees and Red Sox)
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Dec 3, 2017, 19:18 ESTUpdated: Dec 3, 2017, 19:24 EST
MLB’s next great Japanese superstar will not be playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018, according to a tweet from Shi Davidi:
The Blue Jays were informed they are not a finalist for Ohtani. GM Ross Atkins: “We felt confident about our presentation and we were given feedback by Shohei Ohtani’s representation that we controlled everything within our power.”
#BlueJays have been informed they’re out of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, per source. Feedback was apparently good, but not right fit.
That’s the bad news. It’s also pretty thoroughly unsurprising news. The good news? Ohtani’s strong preference toward playing on the west coast, and in a smaller market, means that the fucking Yankees and Red Sox are out, too.
Sources briefed on Ohtani cutdown tell me "heavy West Coast" flavor to final list. #Cubs a possible exception along with SEA, SF, SD and both LA clubs.
Shohei Ohtani’s representatives told the Yankees that they will not be among the teams invited to make an in-person presentation. Brian Cashman said the news was “disappointing.”
Cashman said that Ohtani’s reps told him they were very impressed with team’s presentation, but no matter how good it was, the Yankees couldn’t make themselves West Coast or a smaller market.
Red Sox out on Ohtani, per team source
So there you have it. Or… not it. But enough of it that Jays fans can comfortably move on, and the front office can continue on with the business of their offseason. It’s a disappointing moment, because I can’t lie, I could never quite shake the idea that there was a small glimmer of hope that he might end up here — and the way it’s playing out suggests that Ohtani was definitely being genuine about looking for the right fit — but obviously the fact that he’s not going to be playing with the fucking Yankees or fucking Red Sox or fucking Orioles or fucking Rays is a pretty goddamned tasty consolation prize. As is the fact that this isn’t anything that can get spun into something to be outraged about. Geography was clearly just too important to Ohtani, and working too hard against the Jays.
I dunno. I wish Ohtani well and hope he finds what he’s looking for. Now let’s finally let the damn offseason begin!
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