Ohtani really went to Gocheok Dome? Yankees Recruitment Withdraws

Shohei Otani will face off with Kim Ha-sung at Gocheok Dome

What was imagined is a sign that it will come true.

MLB.COM, the U.S. Major League website, cited multiple news on the 3rd that the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox withdrew from the Ohtani recruitment campaign. They have been seeking to recruit Ohtani, whose contract with the Los Angeles Angels has expired. However, Ohtani's ransom is expected to be more than $500 million, and he seems to be turning his eyes. 스포츠토토

Currently, the teams that continue to recruit Ohtani include the Angels, their original team, rivals LA Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blojays. The San Francisco Giants are also considered dark horses. Canadian sports media SportsNet quoted a local source as saying, "Negotiations between Otani and several clubs have entered the final stage, and contact with agents will be made at the upcoming winter meeting."

The team that is ahead of the recruitment race is considered the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are considered the best team in the National League. In particular, many Japanese fans living in Los Angeles and the geographical location of the Pacific coast close to Japan are considered reasons that have long attracted the attention of many Japanese players. Above all, the fact that Ohtani is the championship team that he aspires to be is expected to be important in the negotiations. The observation that the Dodgers watched the FA market last year to catch Ohtani is also getting stronger.

If Ohtani wears a Dodgers uniform, the official starting point will be Korea.

The Dodgers will play the opening two consecutive games of the 2024 season against Kim Ha-sung's team, the San Diego Padres, at Gocheok Sky Dome from March 21st to 22nd next year. This is the first time that the opening game of the Major League will be held in Korea.

Japan is the only major league opener in Asia. Japan, which has long hosted the U.S.-Japan series, has consistently hosted the opening game of the Major League at Tokyo Dome. The opening game in Korea was Major League Baseball's decision to globalize baseball and reconsider its box office success. In the meantime, as Ohtani's trip to the Dodgers becomes visible, it seems to be becoming a "snowball" that not only Korea but also Japan and the United States pay attention to.

Ohtani is loved not only by the U.S. and Japan, but also by domestic fans. He won not only the Major League Rookie of the Year, but also the Home Run King and MVP with his so-called "Lee Do-ryu" who doubles as a pitcher and a batter. In addition to his beautiful appearance, he is a player who shows all the virtues that a professional must have, such as making plans for his success from a young age, executing them, and continuing a clean privacy on and off the ground. If Ohtani's first game after the transfer takes place in Korea, the impact of the box office is expected to be explosive.