Revisiting The Hour The Mlb World Thought Shohei Ohtani Was Destined For Blue Jays

We’ll ne'er hide nan beautiful offseason chaos that occurred connected Dec. 8, 2023.

At nan time, nan biggest storyline successful each of sports was wherever two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and his adorable puppy Decoy were going to motion successful free agency. Ohtani had conscionable wrapped up his sixth play pinch nan Angels and had 2 MVP grant and 3 All-Star nods to show for it.

There was nary mobility that Ohtani was going to motion nan biggest free-agent statement successful shot history—and likely, North American sports history. The mobility was ... where?

As we each know, Ohtani ended up signing a record-breaking 10-year contract pinch nan Dodgers worthy $700 million, a statement that included $680 cardinal deferred for a decade. Although Ohtani spending his adjacent 10 years starring astatine Dodger Stadium seemed for illustration a foregone conclusion that offseason, location were different superior contenders to motion nan two-way superstar, including nan Blue Jays. In fact, connected Dec. 8, 2023, location were inaccurate reports swirling astir nan net that Ohtani was connected a backstage formation heading to Toronto—interpreted arsenic an denotation he was going to motion pinch nan Blue Jays.

It was debunked an hr aliases truthful later, but what a clip that was to beryllium online.

Less than 2 years later, nan shot gods provided america pinch a storyline almost excessively bully to beryllium true—Ohtani’s Dodgers will effort to take sides their World Series title against nan Blue Jays, nan squad that came oh-so-close to signing nan two-way superstar.

Ahead of Game 1 connected Friday night, let’s return a travel down representation lane and revisit nan formation to Toronto that ne'er was:

As early arsenic nan All-Star Game successful July 2023, Ohtani’s pending determination dominated nan headlines. At nan time, Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci considered nan Dodgers nan favorites to onshore Ohtani, followed by—in order—the Padres, Giants, Mariners, Rangers and Mets.

In nan months following, nan Blue Jays crept their measurement into nan Ohtani sweepstakes and surged past nan different contenders. By December, Verducci reported nan Blue Jays were 1 of 2 superior finalists for Ohtani on pinch nan Dodgers, and nan Cubs and Giants were “hanging successful there.”

Could nan Blue Jays really propulsion it disconnected and outspend nan Dodgers? Well, uh ...

Dec. 8, 2023 astatine 4:01 p.m. ET: The Report

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi collapsed nan internet.

At 4:01 p.m. ET connected Dec. 8, 2023, Morosi reported, citing sources, that Ohtani was “en route” to Toronto and his supplier would not remark erstwhile asked astir his recreation plans. Morosi made judge to statement that arsenic that formation near nan ground, Ohtani had not signed immoderate statement pinch an MLB team.

Earlier that week, it was reported that Ohtani was touring nan Jays’ outpouring training installation successful Dunedin, Fla. There was besides a rumor floating astir Toronto media circles that Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi made a Friday nighttime preservation for 50 group astatine a sushi edifice adjacent Rogers Centre. Certainly, a backstage pitchy flying from Southern California to Toronto reportedly carrying nan two-way superstar meant he intended to motion pinch Toronto. Right?

Well, not truthful fast.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale—in possibly nan defining infinitesimal of his reporting career—shut it down.

“Shohei Ohtani is NOT successful Toronto,” he wrote successful an X station published astatine 5:11 p.m. ET. “Ohtani is NOT connected a formation to Toronto. Ohtani is astatine location successful Southern California.”

After Nightengale swatted nan rumors of a Toronto flight, different reporters confirmed that, successful fact, Ohtani was still successful nan Los Angeles area and not headed northbound crossed nan border. Morosi, to his credit, issued a heartfelt apology later that nighttime for getting it wrong.

But here’s nan thing: There was a backstage formation successful nan aerial walking from Southern California to Toronto. And it was carrying a celebrity—just not a two-way shot phenom.

Dec. 8 astatine 5:54 p.m. ET: Jumping nan shark

Robert Herjavec, nan Canadian billionaire champion known for his domiciled connected nan deed show Shark Tank, boarded formation N616RH retired of John Wayne Airport successful Santa Ana, Calif., and headed to Toronto connected Dec. 8, 2023.

Traveling pinch his 2 sons, Herjavec had nary thought fans and journalists alike were search Flight N616RH done nan air. When Herjavec landed successful Toronto and was welcomed by a oversea of Canadian media, he was beyond confused. He was moreover asked by a Canadian customs supplier whether Ohtani was connected nan plane.

Just earlier 6 p.m. ET, a CBC photographer connected tract astatine nan airdrome reported that Flight N616RH was carrying Herjavec, not Ohtani.

Later that night, Herjavec himself posted to societal media and confirmed nan news.

“I’d for illustration to convey nan @bluejays statement for signing maine today!” Herjavec wrote successful an Instagram post. “All joking aside—I’m not @shoheiohtani and he was not connected my level today! Not judge really it each started but I’m calling nan jays and seeing if they’ll motion my 5 twelvemonth aged for 600 mil (he WAS connected nan level and throws a mean pitch).”

The very adjacent day, Ohtani signed his lucrative statement pinch nan Dodgers. He led Los Angeles to a World Series successful his first play pinch nan club, defeating Aaron Judge and nan Yankees successful 5 games.

But if Ohtani is going to adhd a 2nd World Series ringing to his trophy case, he’ll have to spell done nan Blue Jays—the statement that will everlastingly beryllium linked to his free-agent decision.

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