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Shohei Ohtani Offers Public Apology as He Ends $700 Million Free Agency Chaos in Dodgers Blue

Published 12/09/2023, 4:12 PM EST

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It’s official! Shohei Ohtani will stay in Los Angeles. After a rather long wait, it’s been announced that he will no longer wear the scarlet of Angels but the cool azure blues of the Dodgers. Although baseball fans all around are celebrating in joy, Shotime has something to apologize for.

With an astonishing $700 million for 10 years, something never before seen in American sports history, Ohtani has found another way to shock the world. Perhaps the most chaotic free agency eta in MLB, the journey has been brought to a satisfying end. But it was a rather late conclusion.

Shohei Ohtani Apologizes for Keeping the MLB World on Its Toes

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Shohei Ohtani shared an Instagram post announcing the long-awaited news of his signing. Analysts and fans have exhausted themselves these last few years, waiting for this day to come. And clearly, the Japanese phenom knew it. “To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.”

In his usual official manner of talking, the classic polite Japanese way, Shotime is appealing to the masses. But looking at the fan reactions online, most are just happy to have the stressful period over. The Dodgers were long preferred to be favorites – not only did they meet the Ohtani’s supposed West Coast preferences but they also have a winning roster.

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Although their postseason history may seem iffy, the lethal combination of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani has to work in the Blue Crew’s favor. However, this move from Anaheim to Los Angeles, AL to NL, almost didn’t happen. Or so many thought.

Just two days before the news broke out, rumors ran rampant that Ohtani may sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. Flight schedules were looked at, Ohtani lookalikes were spotted at airports, and stories were cooked. But they ultimately proved fruitless, and some even blamed Ohtani’s camp for spreading false reports so that the Dodgers would cough up more money.

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Whatever the true version of the story, Blue Jays fans have come out of this saga disheartened and unhappy. While of course, the Japanese wonder boy wouldn’t apologize for his choices or supposed tactics, he does realize his impact on the sports world. Everyone has been waiting with bated breaths for this rollercoaster of a ride to end. Maybe the offseason can now move ahead in full swing.

WATCH THIS STORY – Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Dream – Before Injury He Always Wanted Both

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Written by:

Arunima Bhanot

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My tryst with MLB was accidental, but what followed was nothing short of a pursuit of excellence. Having penned over 1,000 articles, I've written about the key figures ES regularly features, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Mike Trout, but Shohei Ohtani is a personal favorite. From New York to Los Angeles, I've covered articles spanning all 50 states that have been recognized as Editor's Picks on multiple occasions.
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Edited by:

Arunima Bhanot