What could have been if Shohei Ohtani signed with the Blue Jays

Shohei Ohtani has simply signed the largest contract in baseball historical past. 10 years for $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While there have been different groups in the operating, nobody was nearer to touchdown Ohtani than the Toronto Blue Jays. Everyone was in a frenzy. Learning that the Japanese famous person was in Florida at the Jays’ spring coaching facility, monitoring a non-public jet flying from Santa Ana to Toronto, to information breaking that didn’t find yourself being true, it was so shut however nonetheless to this point for the Canadian membership.

But, what would have occurred if Ohtani did go there?

Contract logistics

Firstly, let’s discuss if they could even have signed him. They had cash in the finances for certain, however it was first estimated that no matter membership landed Ohtani would wish to pay between $500 and $600 million. The Blue Jays have an energetic whole payroll of $128,964,255 for 2024 in response to Spotrac. Their whole is projected by their calculations to be over $190 billion. All to say, they could have afforded the $700 million that the Dodgers received Ohtani for. They positively could have signed him, however it seems that staying in California was a much bigger draw.

What does Ohtani convey them?

Adding Ohtani to any lineup immediately improves it. Regardless of hitting or pitching, he’s a twin risk and has proved that all through his time with the Angels. While he could not pitch a lot or in any respect in 2024 after coming off of elbow surgical procedure, he can match that designated hitter function and work himself right into a rotation with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays’ present DH. If he is ready to pitch in any respect subsequent season, he is not going to solely strengthen their mound presence, however assist the catchers enhance too.

Last season, Ohtani had 151 hits in 497 at-bats and a median of .304. He hit 44 house runs, fourth finest in the league. He additionally had 95 RBIs. Pitching-wise, he threw for 23 video games and had 163 strikeouts and an ERA of three.14. While these won’t be his finest pitching stats for a season, his batting common would put him as the fifth-best batter final season based mostly on batting common for the Blue Jays and the ninth-best pitcher by way of ERA.

So, not solely does he convey that presence of somebody who’s so good at baseball it’s scary, however he brings aid to a Blue Jays roster that struggled with leaving gamers stranded on base. He could have pulled a really succesful roster to their full potential. Think of Michael Jordan when he rejoined the Bulls in 1995. They have been good, however they could have been higher. Once he returned, they went 13-4 and clinched a playoff spot. Incredibly gifted gamers have the potential to convey that drive and competitiveness to any roster they be a part of.

What went unsuitable?

We received’t know all the particulars that led to Ohtani’s resolution till he talks about it in the ensuing press convention that he alluded to in his Instagram put up, however there are some giant potentialities. One being that staying in California retains him near house geographically. Japan remains to be nearly a 12-hour flight away from Los Angeles, however it’s rather a lot nearer than Toronto could be. The different being that there’s hope that his longevity is not going to be broken after his elbow surgical procedure. Spending $700 million on anyone (or something, actually) is a ginormous threat. What if it doesn’t play out? What if he can’t pitch like he used to? It is a legitimate concern, and possibly Toronto simply didn’t wish to depart any doubts on the desk after they have been considering of drawing up the contract. They wished to be assured, and so they weren’t certain they could be. That appears like the most rational cause why. The cash was there, the roster spot and alternative have been there, however possibly the confidence simply wasn’t.