It has long been said that “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

…and baseball.

In a Sunday afternoon Sportsnet article by Ben Nicholson-Smith, the popular baseball writer noted that the offer made to two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo of CAA Sports by the Toronto Blue Jays was “right there” with the 10-year/$700 million that they accepted from Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Dodgers ownership.

So why the Dodgers over the Blue Jays and a ballpark that Ohtani is familiar with because of his six seasons with their division-rival Anaheim Angels?

Although the simple answer might be because Friedman and the Dodgers included several very creative incentives in their 10-year deal with the future Hall of Famer, this could be the real reason:

• Blue Jays World Series Championships: 1992, 1993.
• Dodgers World Series Championships: 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020.

A bit harsh you say. Perhaps. But the 29-year-old Oshu, Japan native, 2018 MLB Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, two-time MLB MVP, two-time Silver Slugger, and former MLB Player of the Year recently made it very clear that the one thing he wants more than anything else (even over the money that he has already made and will make) is a World Series ring. And meaning no disrespect whatsoever to the Blue Jays and their very loyal fans, which of these two teams has a more realistic chance of doing this over the next 10 years?

To that end, Ohtani’s willingness to creatively defer the money he is guaranteed from the Dodgers so that Friedman can pursue very much needed pitching help certainly confirms his desire to win one of these coveted World Series ring(s).

Play Ball!

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