Insider: Ohtani Has Suprise Meeting At Blue Jays Spring Training Complex

In an overnight bombshell, MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal reported that superstar free agent Shohei Ohtani travelled to the Toronto Blue Jays spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida to check it out and meet with the team there. 

This is the strongest signal yet that the Blue Jays are indeed a leading contender alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers, and possibly a couple of other teams in the chase to sign the two-time MVP. 

Shohei Ohtani, Blue Jays believed to have met Monday at team’s Florida complex. Story: https://t.co/euAWUwuYxh

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2023

As Rosenthal reports, "All day Monday, there were signs something was happening between the Jays and Ohtani." 

This report jibes with the fact that Jays GM Ross Atkins said a “scheduling conflict” prevented him from being at the Winter Meetings in person on Monday.  

According to Jon Heyman, as well, “Ohtani did tell some folks he knows before his probable Jays Florida visit he has a positive feeling about Toronto.” Heyman even added that he spoke to an ex-Angels teammate of Ohtani who spoke during the season of "liking Toronto."

Ohtani, the most impactful free agent in baseball history is expected to command at minimum $500M on a long term deal, and possibly up to $600M. 

The two-way star, however, will not be able to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery. He can be a full-time DH, though, and bring his vaunted 1.066 OPS and 44 home runs to a lineup. This is something that a 2023 watered-down Toronto lineup could badly use. 

Photo: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports