AL MVP Shohei Ohtani’s free-agency choice might come down to at least one quantity that has nothing to do with cash, in accordance with MLB columnist Bob Nightengale of USA As we speak.
Per Nightengale, the Los Angeles Dodgers contacted veteran aid pitcher Joe Kelly this week to ask if he would quit his No. 17 uniform to permit Ohtani to maintain his quantity. Ohtani has worn No. 17 since making his large league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
Kelly wore No. 58 throughout his first two-plus seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2012-14) after which No. 56 throughout his days with the Boston Purple Sox (2014-18). The hard-throwing righty has sported No. 17 since 2019 whereas taking part in for each the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.
Kelly reportedly signed a one-year, $8 million deal final week to stay with Los Angeles, although the contract hasn’t been formally introduced but. Nightengale reported that Kelly instructed group officers that he’d be honored to modify numbers to accommodate the two-way stud.
“The uniform request might imply nothing. Or it might imply completely every little thing,” Nightengale wrote. “One GM instructed USA TODAY Sports activities that the Dodgers would don’t have any cause to request a participant to vary his uniform quantity except they really believed Ohtani was signing with them.”
For what it is value, the insider added that each the Dodgers and Ohtani’s representatives declined remark.
For months, the membership has been seen as one of many favorites to land the once-in-a-century expertise. Supervisor Dave Roberts made headlines on Tuesday, nevertheless, when he confirmed that the group met with Ohtani final Friday at Dodger Stadium.
That is notable as a result of ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote in November that if the designated hitter/pitcher’s visits with organizations turned public, it might “be held in opposition to the group.”
Nightengale additional defined that the Dodgers postponed stadium excursions and closed their group retailer once they met with Ohtani to “forestall any public sightings” of the 29-year-old.
It has been reported lately that Ohtani has additionally visited with the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays, although group officers have not been prepared to substantiate the conferences.
When Roberts answered reporters’ questions truthfully on Tuesday, many felt he had blown any shot the group had at touchdown the three-time All-Star. Maybe Kelly’s willingness to vary numbers has stored the Dodgers within the working.
