ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported earlier this offseason that Shohei Ohtani did not want his free agency plans being shared. Additionally, while there is an understandable palpable buzz surrounding Ohtani and his free agency, teams pursuing the 2023 American League MVP would be better suited to keeping any information related to his process close to the vest.
“If there is one thing to know about Shohei Ohtani’s free agency, it’s that you are unlikely to know much about it until he signs somewhere,” Passan wrote. “If visits between Ohtani and a team are reported publicly, it will be held against the team so that the circles will be tiny and tight.”
Well, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t seem to mind sharing information about Ohtani on Tuesday.
According to ESPN’s Alden González, Roberts said that the team met with Ohtani in Los Angeles a couple of days ago for 2-to-3 hours.
“Clearly,” he said, “Shohei’s our top priority.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team met with Shohei Ohtani in Los Angeles a couple days ago for two to three hours.
“Clearly,” he said, “Shohei’s our top priority.”
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 5, 2023
It remains to be seen if the two-way superstar will hold it against one of his perceived finalists.
Roberts added that he’s confident that Ohtani, who underwent an unknown procedure on his torn UCL, will pitch again at some point in his career.
“We’re betting on the person,” Roberts said via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Still, a timetable for Ohtani’s return is relatively unknown, and it remains to be seen if his second UCL surgery will play out similarly to Bryce Harper, who returned around Memorial Day for the Philadelphia Phillies this past season. At the same time, Ohtani will likely not pitch in any capacity during the 2024 season, but that doesn’t seem to dissuade teams from going all-in on the 29-year-old Japanese superstar, including the Dodgers.
Roberts did say that he doesn’t know when Ohtani will decide, but he hopes it’s soon.
[Alden González, Bob Nightengale]
