Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins expresses regret Shohei Ohtani turned down Toronto
TORONTO — Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed regret Shoehei Ohtani turned down Toronto after meeting with the team and chose to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atkins for the first time confirmed Ohtani visited Toronto’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but wouldn’t say whether the meeting occurred on Dec. 4, when Atkins spoke to reporters at the winter meetings via Zoom rather than in person in Nashville, Tennessee. Ohtani announced his agreement with the Dodgers five days later.
’We were obviously very disappointed with the outcome and it was a very difficult phone call to receive, one of the more difficult ones in my career,” Atkins said Wednesday. “At the same time, (it was an) incredible process and group effort and collaboration that I feel so good about, not only that process but what it meant to be in that position for the organization, for the city, for the country. There’s no doubt in my mind he was exceptionally attracted to this country, this city, this team. We felt incredible about the process, but we moved on
ORONTO — Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed regret Shoehei Ohtani turned down Toronto after meeting with the team and chose to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atkins for the first time confirmed Ohtani visited Toronto’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but wouldn’t say whether the meeting occurred on Dec. 4, when Atkins spoke to reporters at the winter meetings via Zoom rather than in person in Nashville, Tennessee. Ohtani announced his agreement with the Dodgers five days later.
’We were obviously very disappointed with the outcome and it was a very difficult phone call to receive, one of the more difficult ones in my career,” Atkins said Wednesday. “At the same time, (it was an) incredible process and group effort and collaboration that I feel so good about, not only that process but what it meant to be in that position for the organization, for the city, for the country. There’s no doubt in my mind he was exceptionally attracted to this country, this city, this team. We felt incredible about the process, but we moved on
ORONTO — Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed regret Shoehei Ohtani turned down Toronto after meeting with the team and chose to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atkins for the first time confirmed Ohtani visited Toronto’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but wouldn’t say whether the meeting occurred on Dec. 4, when Atkins spoke to reporters at the winter meetings via Zoom rather than in person in Nashville, Tennessee. Ohtani announced his agreement with the Dodgers five days later.
’We were obviously very disappointed with the outcome and it was a very difficult phone call to receive, one of the more difficult ones in my career,” Atkins said Wednesday. “At the same time, (it was an) incredible process and group effort and collaboration that I feel so good about, not only that process but what it meant to be in that position for the organization, for the city, for the country. There’s no doubt in my mind he was exceptionally attracted to this country, this city, this team. We felt incredible about the process, but we moved on
TRADE: The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Bryan Hudson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Justin Chambers on Wednesday in an exchange of left-handed pitchers. Los Angeles also will receive either cash or a player to be named. Hudson, 26, went 0-0 with a 7.27 ERA in six appearances for the Dodgers last season with seven strikeouts and four walks in 8 2/3 innings.
METS: Infield prospect Ronny Mauricio will miss most or all of the 2024 season following surgery to repair a torn right ACL. The 22-year-old Mauricio, who made his major league debut with New York on Sept. 1, was hurt while playing for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League on Dec. 10.
RED SOX: Lucas Giolito finalized a $38.5 million, two-year contract with Boston, a deal that allows the 29-year-old right-hander to earn up to $58 million over three seasons. Giolito gets $18 million this year and has a $19 million player option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout.
PADRES: South Korean reliever Woo-Suk Go has agreed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract with San Diego that includes a 2026 mutual option plus bonus and escalator provisions that could make it worth $9.4 million over three seasons. The right-hander was 3-8 with a 3.68 ERA and 15 saves in 44 appearances last year for the LG Twins.
DIAMONDBACKS: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. would give up $18 million in guaranteed money if he opts out of his $42 million, three-year contract with Arizona after the 2025 season. His deal, announced Dec. 22, includes a team option for 2027 that could make the agreement worth $51 million over four years.
WHITE SOX: Chris Flexen could boost his earnings by $1 million to $2.75 million with the Chicago this year if he pitches 160 or more innings. The 29-year-old right-hander is guaranteed $1.75 million as part of the one-year contract the team announced Saturday.
REDS: Third baseman Jeimer Candelario gets a $3 million signing bonus as part of his $45 million, three-year contract with Cincinnati, a deal that includes a 2027 team option and could be worth $60 million over four seasons.
