Good news:He’s back Toronto Blue Jays key player

What would the Blue Jays probably pitch to Shohei Ohtani?

The first is self-evident. Shohei Ohtani is a historically gifted player in his prime who has drawn interest from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Finding out what specifically interests Shohei Ohtani about Canada’s only MLB team and highlighting those points would be important in any final push for the two-time MVP. However, the more intriguing question is why Ohtani is interested in the Blue Jays.

The details of the Blue Jays’ pursuit were unclear as of Monday morning. They showed genuine interest in Ohtani to CAA, his agency, at some point last month. Since then, there has been enough mutual interest for negotiations to go on in addition to Dodgers, Cubs, Angels, and maybe other teams’ pursuits. It’s likely that the Blue Jays were among the select few finalists who met with the two-way star this past weekend in Los Angeles, but their executives have refrained from commenting.

Getting a meeting like that with Ohtani would be a prerequisite for signing him, but it would only matter if you take full advantage of the opportunity to get the two-way star’s attention. GM Ross Atkins gave a general overview of the team’s recruiting pitch last week while discussing the acquisition of elite players.

“This is a fantastic opportunity,” Atkins remarked. The nation, the city, the ownership support, the competitive atmosphere, the completed renovations, and the widespread buy-in allow us to keep building on a very solid foundation.

Let’s now apply those phrases to Ohtani and make a conservative estimate of the Blue Jays’ approach to luring him to the team:

Over the last three complete seasons, the Blue Jays have averaged 91 wins, and they have advanced to the postseason in three of the previous four years. They haven’t succeeded thus far, with a maximum of 92 victories during that time and no postseason victories.

There are, however, grounds for optimism that this team will perform better in 2024. The pitching staff, which finished second in the American League in ERA, is mostly intact, and Ohtani would have a solid position player supporting cast in the form of Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In addition, whenever Ohtani and Guerrero Jr. are on the same field, they appear to genuinely enjoy teasing each other.

In what way do the Dodgers compare? Since 2013, when Josh Beckett, Andre Ethier, and Hanley Ramirez were players, the Dodgers have advanced to the postseason each year. After winning the World Series in 2020, they went on to have three seasons in a row with 100 or more wins. They serve as the archetype for long-term baseball success.

Ohtani’s every move is met with a media frenzy, so in some ways, that pressure is inevitable. However, all of this is relative, and Ohtani might find it more appealing in Toronto than in New York or Boston, which some observers think he would prefer to avoid given his history of carefully arranging media appearances with assistance from the Angels and CAA.

Players can find some privacy in Toronto, a remarkably diverse city, outside of the ballpark. Ohtani would also have a ton of business options given his current off-field affiliations with Hugo Boss, New Balance, and Porsche.

How the Dodgers compare: Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment industry and has a sizable media market with high demands and pressure on star players.

The Blue Jays were behind in this regard six years ago, but they have since caught up, renovating their player development complex in Dunedin, Florida for $80 million and Rogers Centre for $300 million, which is currently nearing completion.

Player care will be excellent in Toronto with new batting cages, workout areas, and a new home clubhouse. Additionally, the Dunedin, Florida facility provides players with cutting-edge training whether they are participating in spring training or the off-season. Ohtani is known to value data and to take his training very seriously, so these advancements might be significant.

Another plus here is that Ohtani’s schedule will be somewhat predictable thanks to the Blue Jays’ dome, especially when he starts pitching again in 2025 and beyond.

In terms of comparison, this might be the Blue Jays’ greatest advantage over the Dodgers, who also share a spring training complex with the White Sox. Anticipate a significant portion of the Blue Jays’ pitch to top free agents like Ohtani to include these player resources.

In terms of the weather, rain delays are uncommon in Los Angeles; however, the Blue Jays may have an advantage over teams that play in cold climates, such as the Cubs, thanks to the dome.

Teams that are interested should make it clear to Ohtani that his comfort comes first. Athletes need rest, recuperation, and behind-the-scenes support in order to perform at an elite level; it is not enough to simply tell them what they want to hear.

Wherever Ohtani goes, interpreter Ippei Mizuhara will undoubtedly be well received, but the backing might go even farther. Could promises be made, for example, regarding additional support staff? Could groups decide to limit their daily access to media in order to save energy?

Yusei Kikuchi, who attended the same rural Japanese high school as Ohtani, could be a valuable resource for the Blue Jays in their efforts to reassure Ohtani that he is welcome. Kikuchi’s seniority is significant in Japanese culture, so extending a warm welcome and endorsing Toronto as a desirable destination for living and recreation could have significant impact.

To elaborate, would Jose Berrios be willing to part with his No. 17 jersey? In that case, would Ohtani agree or disagree? To have the Blue Jays not there yet is the epitome of a good problem.

How do the Dodgers compare? Ohtani would have found it easier to adjust to Los Angeles after playing for the Anaheim Angels for the previous six seasons.

Any team remaining in the Ohtani sweepstakes is aware of the ultimate cost and most likely has ownership approval to talk about deals up to $500 million. For a Blue Jays team that had to scrounge together cash to try and sign Ervin Santana in the last ten years, that’s no small development. It’s hard to say where that will go from here, but executives and rival agents believe the Blue Jays are a team willing and able to pay a premium for the right player.

Speaking generally, Atkins stated last week, “We’ve always had incredible support from ownership.”

In what way do the Dodgers compare? The Dodgers appear ready to invest heavily in Ohtani, having spent sparingly on him in the previous winter. One reason industry observers see them as the favorites is that, as one of baseball’s biggest market teams, they are more than capable of offering a historic contract.