The Los Angeles Dodgers are dominating the headlines for winning the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes with a 10-year, $700 million mega-contract. But as that celebration continues, several other clubs across MLB are left to pick up the pieces in the wake of the superstar’s move.
The Los Angeles Angels, who were never seen as serious contenders to retain Ohtani, are now officially facing life without him. The Angels have generated millions of dollars per season via sponsorships with Japanese companies that will likely no longer see the value in those deals. Now, the Halos will look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 without the help of baseball’s best player.
When rumors that Ohtani would sign with the Toronto Blue Jays flared up late last week, the club’s World Series betting odds improved from 15-1 to as short as 8-1, behind only the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers. The Blue Jays are believed to have offered Ohtani a contract not much lower than the Dodgers’ deal.
The New York Mets were among the teams with an initial interest in Ohtani, but it turns out they never had much of a chance. “The agent never reached out to me personally,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said. “And I think that’s pretty telling.” The Mets began last season with a record payroll, so offering Ohtani a record deal wouldn’t have been an issue.
Dodgers Fans Prepare To Pay Up
Ticket prices for Ohtani’s home debut with the Dodgers next spring are already skyrocketing.
On secondary marketplaces, some standing-room-only tickets were selling for a minimum price of more than $400 in the wake of Ohtani’s signing.
