I don’t know about you, but I haven’t recovered from what Shohei Ohtani did during the World Baseball Classic. He has shown what a special player he is, of course…
But he has also shown that he thrives on challenges.
It was obvious in the final, but throughout the tournament he was there when the Japanese needed him. He was dominant at bat and intimidating on the mound.
His performances during batting practices and his multiple trips between the bullpen and the dugout during the final are not counted anywhere, but they served to intimidate opponents.
It was done with all due respect, but it served to remind other nations of this: I am the best in my sport and I want to win.
His duel against Mike Trout says it all.
But there, we have to see where he will sign the next contract that will make him a legend. This is the main issue of the next MLB season.
I always doubted his return to Anaheim and let’s say I doubt even more knowing that Angels owner Arte Moreno hasn’t started negotiating with Ohtani. At least he hadn’t started last weekend.
Allow me to wonder about this. Is it because the player does not want to negotiate knowing that he is leaving in a year? Is it because the Angels want to wait?
Either way, it smells bad for the Angels.
But it gets even worse for Ohtani, who won’t be traded by the Angels if they’re in the playoff race.
According to Moreno, who didn’t sell the Angels this winter after some rumors, Shohei Ohtani is one of the top five or 10 players in MLB right now.
Ok, those comments were made before the end of the Classic, but we already knew that he is the best of his generation – and the best for a few generations.
If I am Ohtani, I am looking for an owner who will say that I am the best in the world.
Did Steve Cohen, who treats his players with a grain of salt and has cash to spare in New York, go to Japan during the Classic to show him that he thinks he’s the best? Who knows.
But what I do know is that the rising prices in Ohtani’s case don’t scare the Mets as much as they do other teams. At the moment, the figure of $600 million has become relevant again.
I still believe that the Dodgers are in a good position to sign him, he who probably wants to stay in the West of the country.
But one thing is certain: already that the Angels have two holds against them, the owner of the Angels is in the process of handcuffing himself properly.
- In a week, the MLB season will begin.
- Roger Clemens on TV March 30.
- Many people watched the Classic.
- Marcus Stroman will start the first game for his team.
