This afternoon the New York Yankees lost out in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes per multiple reports on Twitter.
Well, all that saving up and international pool money for nothing. It was reported today by Bryan Hoch on Twitter that the New York Yankees are out of the running to meet with Shohei Ohtani.
The news comes as a huge disappointment to many fans, who were anticipating Ohtani being interested in pursuing a career in the New York spotlight.
The Yankees have been informed that they are OUT in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
The Japanese Babe Ruth has been garnering the interest of many different ball clubs so far this offseason but it seems as though he is looking for something a little bit different.
Maybe he just didn’t want to deal with the New York spotlight. Or maybe he’s intimidated by success…who knows. But the bottom line is that Ohtani will not be donning pinstripes come Opening Day.
Shohei Ohtani’s representatives told the Yankees that they will not be among the teams invited to make an in-person presentation. Brian Cashman said the news was “disappointing.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
Cashman said that Ohtani’s reps told him they were very impressed with team’s presentation, but no matter how good it was, the Yankees couldn’t make themselves West Coast or a smaller market.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
So it sounds like he might be aiming for towards the Los Angeles Dodger or, most likely, the Los Angeles Angels. Now can you imagine Mike Trout followed by Shohei Ohtani in the lineup…probably the most intimidating lineup in the history of man.
It sounds like the Yankees were just too big. Or maybe Ohtani just wants to be near a beach in warm weather constantly. When in Rome, right?
But even without Ohtani, the Yankees shouldn’t feel intimidated. They have Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino leading the charge. One player doesn’t necessarily make an entire team and the loss of Ohtani shouldn’t be considered a loss.
It’s a blow to the ego, for sure. The Yankees are always used to getting what they want and this was something they were expecting. But fear not…the Yankees don’t need Ohtani. But they would have loved having him.
Re: Ohtani… Cashman said that if he was a West Coast team in a smaller market, he’d be excited right now.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 3, 2017
Sorry Yankees, Ohtani will not be meeting with you. In fact, we’ll probably be meeting with him at some point during the season on his new team. But no shame in that…best of luck to Ohtani on his continued search.
