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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hasn't had much of a chance to celebrate his blockbuster move to the Los Angeles Dodgers after turning down the Toronto Blue Jays, with the move generating controversy.
The offseason was dominated by stories discussing where his future lied, and for a long time, it appeared as he would be jetting off to Canada. The Blue Jays felt they had all but wrapped up the g of the 29-year-old, who had entered free agency following his time with the Los Angeles Angels.
Instead, he signed the biggest deal in baseball history, penning a 10-year contract worth $700 million with the Dodgers, leaving the Blue Jays frustrated at missing out on their man.
Speculation persisted that Ohtani had boarded a plane to Toronto, something he has since refuted, as he opens up on how he was left puzzled by rumors claiming he had signed for Toronto.
"I was just following the news," Ohtani said through his interpreter. "I knew I wasn't on that flight, so I was curious too."
He later added: "In regards to the offseason, I was as surprised as any fans, in of the news that was going around. But I did meet with the Blue Jays organization, and the impression that I got was it was a really, really great organization."
Blue Jays manager wants revenge
Ohtani will now get a chance to face the team he could've been a part of as the Dodgers fly to Toronto for a weekend series. And despite facing prospect of a hostile reception, Ohtani is looking forward to it.
"The fans are really good. The city, too. So I'm really looking forward to going to Toronto," he said.
But it seems not all of the bad blood has subsided, with Blue Jays manager John Schneider itting he hopes that the fans "give it to him a bit", before hailing his ability.
"It will be interesting to see how the fans welcome him," Schneider said. "It might be a little different. Especially with those 12 or 24 hours in Toronto in December.
"Hopefully they give it to him a little bit, but man, he's a hell of a player. He's a great player. You don't like watching him from the other dugout, but you have to appreciate how good he is."