The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t the one crew to supply Shohei Ohtani $700 million.
Their arch-nemesis San Francisco Giants did as effectively, however finally, the two-way celebrity selected to remain in Southern California however transfer from the Angels to the Dodgers.
In fact, the Dodgers, since 2014, have had extra success. Though the Giants received three World Sequence from 2010 to 2014, the Dodgers have made the postseason in 11 consecutive seasons whereas the Giants have made it simply twice since their final Fall Traditional victory.
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani sits within the dugout through the first inning of a recreation in opposition to the Texas Rangers, July 31, 2022, in Anaheim, California. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers already figured to be World Sequence contenders even earlier than getting Ohtani with the likes of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, however a Giants legend says there are extra elements except for the on-field product that compelled Ohtani’s resolution to remain in L.A.
Buster Posey was a part of the recruiting course of to get Ohtani to play within the Bay Space, however his efforts have been unsuccessful. Nonetheless, he says the present state of town’s “crime” and “drug” points probably performed a task in his resolution.
“One thing I believe is noteworthy, one thing that sadly retains popping up from gamers and even the gamers’ wives, is there’s a little bit of an uneasiness with town itself, so far as the state of town, with crime, with medication,” Posey advised The Athletic.
Buster Posey, above, was a part of the recruiting course of to get Ohtani to play within the Bay Space, however his efforts have been unsuccessful. Nonetheless, he says the present state of town’s “crime” and “drug” points probably performed a task in his resolution. (AP Photograph/Ross D. Franklin/File)
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“Whether or not that’s all fully truthful or not, notion is actuality. It’s a irritating cycle, I believe, and never simply with baseball. Baseball is secondary to life and the necessary issues in life. However so far as a free-agent pursuit goes, I’ve seen that it does have an effect on issues.”
That does not imply the Giants are out on everybody. San Fran really struck a megadeal with Carlos Correa final yr, however physicals turned them and the New York Mets, away. The Giants additionally simply inked a six-year cope with Korean celebrity Jung Hoo Lee.
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani flips his bat after hitting a two-run residence run in opposition to the New York Yankees, July 17, 2023, in Anaheim, California. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
However as an alternative of getting him on, by far, the richest contract in North American sports activities, the Giants will now face Ohtani upwards of double-digit instances a season for the following 10 years regardless of tying the Dodgers’ provide.
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