The Tampa Bay Rays received word Sunday night that they were eliminated from the competition to sign Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani. The team hoped their commitment to letting him be a two-way player based on their experience with top draft pick Brendan McKay and their small-market size, writes Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) would be beneficial in their pursuit of the 23 year-old pitcher/outfielder.
This seems to be common theme, that Ohtani prefers small or west coast market. https://t.co/Luf6rIrkPz
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 4, 2017
That’s too bad for #Rays because it seemed they had an interesting approach to Ohtani pitch with McKay. But being on West coast of Florida was apparently not enough.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 4, 2017
However, Ohtani and his CAA reps allegedly couldn’t get over the geography and appear to be focused on west coast markets. Apparently the west coast of Florida, where the Rays call home, is not the west coast they were focused on.
I digress.
The Yankees — who many had considered to be the favorites — along with the Red Sox, Mets, Blue Jays, Pirates, Diamonbacks, Brewers, Twins and Athletics are also out of the running.
Only the Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Cubs will receive meetings with Ohtani, who now has three weeks to negotiate with teams. It is thought that he could make a decision before that point so that he could be introduced by his new club at the Winter Meetings next week, in Orlando.
Per Topkin Rays officials declined to comment on the news, as they had about their initial interest in Ohtani, out of respect for the process.