[Rosenthal] At least one rival executive views the Blue Jays as a sleeper for Shohei Ohtani. The execs rationale: Any plans the Jays had to sign Guerrero Jr. and Bichette to massive extensions might now be on hold. Springer’s contract expires after 2026. The team remains in need of left-handed power

15 comments

1. Not you too, Bowtie Man

2. I don’t expect us to sign Ohtani because I just can’t see us outbidding the inevitable 500 million it will take. But I do hope this doesn’t drag on all winter because I hate these get your hopes up stories

3. sounds like we are the leverage

4. >The Jays could sell Toronto as an international city with a growing Japanese population. But one problem for them, and for that matter the Red Sox and Yankees, is that if Ohtani’s priority is winning, he might prefer a club outside the highly competitive AL East. And though the Jays play in Rogers Centre, a ballpark with a retractable roof, teams in the West play in more reliable conditions. Ohtani, as he recovers from his second major elbow surgery, might fear disruptions in his schedule because of inclement weather.

   I was saying to someone else that while I trust Rosenthal’s reporting (i.e. I’m sure he did hear that from an executive), I don’t really trust his opinions when it comes to the Blue Jays. Especially if “Ohtani won’t like the weather” is the best he can do.

   And re that rival executive, I’m sure Rosenthal heard it but he should have known it sounds like bullshit. The Jays can’t sell Toronto as a contending destination to Shohei if they’re like “we can afford you but not the great players around you.” If the Jays are trying to get Shohei without trying to keep Bichette and Guerrero in the lineup with him, I mean he might as well stay with the Angels.

5. gonna have to start avoiding baseball media altogether. nothing worse than bait stories that go on for months. love sports journalism. this is gonna be worse than the KD to raptors saga. if it happens, it happens.

6. We can’t expect our needs to change what he’s looking for

7. .01% chance he goes to the jays.
   They are just being used as leverage again.

8. There’s no way this front office spends what it takes to sign the best player in baseball. It’s frustrating that we’re most likely not going to throw everything at the potential GOAT, but it’s not surprising either. Mediocrity is our favourite strategy.

9. lol yeah suuuure…

10. If he wants west coast, perfectly understandable. There’s at least 2, probably more, that would bid up for him.

    If he’s more focused on the team he’s playing for, the blue jays with an opt-out in 3 years sounds pretty fucking ideal. Solid pitchers while he recovers, need for a lefty bat, and young studs (until they have RISP).

11. I hate hope. Somebody please just get this over with lol

12. If the Jays sign Ohtani I’ll eat my own dick

13. It’s the hope that gets you.

14. I will win the LottoMax before this ridiculous rumour came true. I will personally buy everyone in the sub season tickets if it magically happens.

    It’s more believable that every fanbase has received the exact same unnamed rival executive opinion about Ohtani as a sleeper for them.

15. Just do it. Just to see Ohtani play on the regular would take away from a bad Jays season.