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Shohei Ohtani Rumors: Rival Exec 'Would Be Surprised' if MVP Doesn't Sign with Dodgers
The Dodgers free agency plans start with Shohei Ohtani, and the team is preparing to make an all-out attempt to land the two-way superstar. They have wanted him in Dodger Blue since he was in high school, and they have another chance to make it happen.
At the GM Meetings, it seems that the Dodgers are the clear-cut favorites to land Ohtani this winter. The majority of executives believe that he ends up landing in Los Angeles.
“Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers were the overwhelming choice among executives: 10 of the 14 decision-makers who participated said they believe the Angels superstar will wind up heading 30 miles north on the I-5.”
Ohtani has been linked to the Dodgers for some time now, and most in the industry believe that he will be a member of the Dodgers when the dust settles. It’s a great pairing for both sides, and it would be mutually beneficial for each party.
The Dodgers would get the biggest show in baseball, plus massive production on the field. And Ohtani would get to play for a premier franchise in the league and have a chance to win the World Series each year.
“Like everybody else, I think he ends up staying in Los Angeles, but with the other team there,” one National League executive said. “When the Dodgers have an infatuation with a guy and they’ve made moves that seem like they do, they always get their guy. I would be surprised if that's not where he ends up.”
Ohtani has become very comfortable in Southern California over the last few years, so he essentially wouldn’t have to leave. He would just be upgrading the franchise that he plays for and would be making much more money as well.
LA has been positioning itself to land Ohtani for years now, and this is their chance to make it happen. The fanbase is expecting Ohtani at this point, and it would be a massive disappointment if he were to sign elsewhere.