The Los Angeles Dodgers caught the biggest name in the MLB free agent market after signing Shohei Ohtani to a historic $700 million 10-year deal on Saturday, December 9.
The Dodgers acted swiftly to seal the deal with the two-time AL MVP, especially after rumors leaked that Ohtani allegedly agreed to play for the Toronto Blue Jays. It appears this was the reason the LA Dodgers rushed to close the deal with the Japanese pitching sensation, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani Free Agency: 'Shotime' Continues Hide-and-Seek Game With Fans and Stalkers
"They held meetings Friday night with an air of worry," Verducci wrote. "The rumors were likely false, they decided, but they still created angst among the Los Angeles executives."
Ohtani to Blue Jays fake report
"Shotime" potentially headed to the Blue Jays surfaced after Jon Morosi of the MLB Network alleged that Ohtani was on a private plane headed for Toronto. However, he would later apologize for the false report.
At the time, the Dodgers were unaware that the Ohtani to Blue Jays report was bogus. In the end, the two-way superstar officially announced via Instagram that he was headed to the Dodgers.
Dodgers' Big Three
With the Ohtani signing, the Los Angeles Dodgers have assembled a Big Three that will likely become the best trio of offensive stars ever, per Bleacher Report.
Ohtani will join Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, two names who figured in the NL MVP voting last season.
With that in mind, it will be interesting if the NL MVP award will be something Ohtani would take an interest in. But perhaps the only thing he wants right now is to win and potentially savor a World Series title.
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