Ohtani to Dodgers for an ungodly amount of money

[thawv]

12 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I've got tickets to a concert at 8pm est. I predict it breaks between 8-10pm est just to piss me off.

So you're not going to tell us who your'e going to see??  

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, thawv said:

So you're not going to tell us who your'e going to see??  

Andy Frasco and the United Nations! Pretty excited. But will also fully expect the Ohtani news and some other big things to happen, forcing me to miss it. As well, I'm the driver on the way back home, which will add another hour to my delay of being upset or excited haha.

[thawv]

12 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Andy Frasco and the United Nations! Pretty excited. But will also fully expect the Ohtani news and some other big things to happen, forcing me to miss it. As well, I'm the driver on the way back home, which will add another hour to my delay of being upset or excited haha.

Never heard of him!  Enjoy my friend!

 

It sucks that you have to drive back, instead of jagging around on your phone in the passenger seat

[gocubs218]

2 hours ago, SOFNR said:

Can they send Theo?  I had a lot more confidence in his pitching abilities.

Jed just pitched Counsell, no? Dansby had to be convinced last year. When Jed wants something, he usually gets it. 

[LBiittner]

15 minutes ago, gocubs218 said:

Jed just pitched Counsell, no? Dansby had to be convinced last year. When Jed wants something, he usually gets it. 

However this process unfolds, one thing is certain, we'll all be having reflections about these Ohtani days one year from today during winter meetings 2024. And I'm hoping we aren't reliving the angst of failure

[Rcal10]

5 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Eh, I bet he does though to a degree. The Dodgers, the Cubs and the Blue Jays all have holes to fix. The Dodgers need multiple SPs. The Cubs need a SP and probably another bat. The Blue Jays need a 3b and maybe an OFer. If Ohtani's goal is a winning team, it probably does matter to him if these things are being held up. All three of these teams likely approach the 2nd steps differently based on Ohtani's signing on or not and may not be able to take the second steps until they know his plans.

 

It comes back to the things he wants out of this. Those things we don't really know. But if he wants to win, making a snappier choice will likely aid in that teams ability to finish their offseason.

I get that. And I don’t understand why it takes him this long to make a decision. However the fact is everyone is different. For me, I would be able to make a decision quickly. It frustrates me when people can’t. However I have a son in law who takes 30 minutes to pick a hat to wear when he goes out. Another 30 minutes to pick a pair of sun glasses. I don’t get it. But not my place to comment and I don’t have to understand it. Well maybe Ohtani is that sort of guy. Someone who is wishy washy and indecisive. Trying to rush him is only going to cause more angst. While you might be right, he does care about slowing things down, he still might not be able to decide quickly. 

[SOFNR]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I get that. And I don’t understand why it takes him this long to make a decision. However the fact is everyone is different. For me, I would be able to make a decision quickly. It frustrates me when people can’t. However I have a son in law who takes 30 minutes to pick a hat to wear when he goes out. Another 30 minutes to pick a pair of sun glasses. I don’t get it. But not my place to comment and I don’t have to understand it. Well maybe Ohtani is that sort of guy. Someone who is wishy washy and indecisive. Trying to rush him is only going to cause more angst. While you might be right, he does care about slowing things down, he still might not be able to decide quickly. 

That might be the goofiest comparison I've ever seen. Ohtani is deciding the next decade or so of his career and life. Likely the place he retires. He's not picking out a hat or sunglasses. He's making one of the biggest decisions of his life. And if he makes a decision before or during the winter meetings that is actually super early in FA, especially for a top star.  It doesn't make him wishy washy or indecisive to get all the information possible before making a major decision. It makes him smart.

[Stratos]

6 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

I can't imagine it'll take that long. Feels like there will be such a bottleneck on a few teams here that it'll have to get done in the next 2-4 days.

I dunno,, this deal is going to be pretty ridiculous and complex and unprecedented, could see it taking longer than typical big contracts.  Hopefully you're right though

[Stratos]

6 hours ago, thawv said:

He's holding up the market on the better FA's.  If each team has 2 hours again to present their case, they should announce it before the meetings.

Yeah but then there's the back and forth of negotiations, then he needs to decide.  This could drag out weeks.

[Backtobanks]

30 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

That might be the goofiest comparison I've ever seen. Ohtani is deciding the next decade or so of his career and life. Likely the place he retires. He's not picking out a hat or sunglasses. He's making one of the biggest decisions of his life. And if he makes a decision before or during the winter meetings that is actually super early in FA, especially for a top star.  It doesn't make him wishy washy or indecisive to get all the information possible before making a major decision. It makes him smart.

I'm sure he's not making a decision for the next decade or the rest of his career because his agent will make sure there are opt outs in the contract.  If he realizes he made a mistake, he can take the $100 - $150 million after 2-3 years and try to correct his mistake.

 

[David]

What in the bloody hell are you guys talking about? The winter meetings haven't even started yet. Big free agents nowadays frequently take it into January. If this gets done in the next week it's relatively quick if anything. He's not holding up horsefeathers and doesn't owe anyone a fast decision anyway. 

[Jason Ross]

4 minutes ago, David said:

What in the bloody hell are you guys talking about? The winter meetings haven't even started yet. Big free agents nowadays frequently take it into January. If this gets done in the next week it's relatively quick if anything. He's not holding up horsefeathers and doesn't owe anyone a fast decision anyway. 

Oh, I don't think he owes me anything. I just don't think this is going to take another week, either. It was rumored he may have decided before the WMs, and while that seems unlikely, this doesn't appear to be on the "Scott Boras wait the entire market out" plan (that feels more like Bellinger's game plan). He's apparently down to the finalists coming to visit him today. This feels end-gamey. 

Edited December 2, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Rcal10]

47 minutes ago, SOFNR said:

That might be the goofiest comparison I've ever seen. Ohtani is deciding the next decade or so of his career and life. Likely the place he retires. He's not picking out a hat or sunglasses. He's making one of the biggest decisions of his life. And if he makes a decision before or during the winter meetings that is actually super early in FA, especially for a top star.  It doesn't make him wishy washy or indecisive to get all the information possible before making a major decision. It makes him smart.

Actually my point was to defend him for taking his time. I have heard others suggest he is holding up the market and he should want to decide quickly (within 2 to 4 days) so teams can get on with their off season. I was not trying to compare this decision with a decision in what hat someone wears. I agree with you that this is a life decision. And he earned the right to decide when he wants to. 

[Jason Ross]

18 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Actually my point was to defend him for taking his time. I have heard others suggest he is holding up the market and he should want to decide quickly (within 2 to 4 days) so teams can get on with their off season. I was not trying to compare this decision with a decision in what hat someone wears. I agree with you that this is a life decision. And he earned the right to decide when he wants to. 

Well, I didn't suggest he was holding up the market, but potentially, bottlenecking teams. And not that he can't take his time, it's his choice, but that I assume he's someone who wants to win (per reports) and that may speed along any choice. I'm sure the Cubs have an offseason plan, like all teams that wildly differ from an Ohtani offseason and a non-Ohtani offseason. 

 

My *guess* was it would he done in less time than Levine suggested because Ohtani would like to see the team he chose execute the plan they seemingly put forth. I don't want anyone to think Im the bad guy who's somehow mad that he's "holding up the market". That's pretty unfair.

Edited December 2, 2023 by 1908_Cubs

[Rcal10]

12 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Well, I didn't suggest he was holding up the market, but potentially, bottlenecking teams. And not that he can't take his time, it's his choice, but that I assume he's someone who wants to win (per reports) and that may speed along any choice. I'm sure the Cubs have an offseason plan, like all teams that wildly differ from an Ohtani offseason and a non-Ohtani offseason. 

 

My *guess* was it would he done in less time than Levine suggested because Ohtani would like to see the team he chose execute the plan they seemingly put forth. Please don't make me seem like the bad guy who's somehow mad that he's "holding up the market". That's pretty unfair.

I feel others have suggested that time frame as well. It wasn’t meant to suggest you are pushing the thought he should know. And, actually it has been reported a while ago that he wanted this done by the winter meetings. So I do understand why some feel this is the time to decide. I apologize if it sounded like I was calling you out. TBF based on what it was reported was his time frame, a decision should be made in a few days. But maybe things changed because what he thought would be an easy decision (staying in LA) has suddenly gotten difficult and he may be reconsidering his decision. If anything, I feel it it does take long that means he is giving serious thought to leaving LA. 

[Jason Ross]

10 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I feel others have suggested that time frame as well. It wasn’t meant to suggest you are pushing the thought he should know. And, actually it has been reported a while ago that he wanted this done by the winter meetings. So I do understand why some feel this is the time to decide. I apologize if it sounded like I was calling you out. TBF based on what it was reported was his time frame, a decision should be made in a few days. But maybe things changed because what he thought would be an easy decision (staying in LA) has suddenly gotten difficult and he may be reconsidering his decision. If anything, I feel it it does take long that means he is giving serious thought to leaving LA. 

Yeah I agree. The more thought the better. And you're good my friend, I just didn't want anyone to think I'm mad at Shohei. Dude gets to make his choices. I just want it to be here like the rest of us.

[Illiterate Scholar]

It's mostly just because I hate the way he tweets, but I have Levine in the Nightengale/Charles the Cat tier. 

Regarding a couple of insiders I do trust, it feels like the coverage by Sharma and Mooney has been pretty light up to this point. I keep waiting for more nuggets from them, which I suppose further emphasis that nobody really knows. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Welcome!

[David]

 

[David]

12 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

It's mostly just because I hate the way he tweets, but I have Levine in the Nightengale/Charles the Cat tier. 

Regarding a couple of insiders I do trust, it feels like the coverage by Sharma and Mooney has been pretty light up to this point. I keep waiting for more nuggets from them, which I suppose further emphasis that nobody really knows. 

Levine is a goofball and can't type but he's always been as plugged in as anyone.

[David]

53 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Oh, I don't think he owes me anything. I just don't think this is going to take another week, either. It was rumored he may have decided before the WMs, and while that seems unlikely, this doesn't appear to be on the "Scott Boras wait the entire market out" plan (that feels more like Bellinger's game plan). He's apparently down to the finalists coming to visit him today. This feels end-gamey. 

Definitely didn't have you in mind with that post, to be clear. 

[Illiterate Scholar]

23 hours ago, CubinNY said:

I read an article in The Athletic about Ohtani’s agent. That is one weird dude. As is Ohtani. 

Yeah, I had a similar takeaway. There is definitely some Weird Guy energy there that feels like would get old when he's not the best player in baseball anymore towards the end of the deal (I will use this to cope if he signs with the Dodgers and will completely overlook if he signs here).

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Illiterate Scholar said:

Yeah, I had a similar takeaway. There is definitely some Weird Guy energy there that feels like would get old when he's not the best player in baseball anymore towards the end of the deal (I will use this to cope if he signs with the Dodgers and will completely overlook if he signs here).

Exactly.. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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Cubs still leaders

 

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But LA expected to make one last MASSIVE offer

[Stratos]

7 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I doubt he cares that he is holding up the market. Not his problem. I can’t see him taking that long, but I also don’t think he owes it to anyone to choose on someone else’s timeframe. Maybe he overplays his hand by waiting and teams move on. But maybe waiting also gets him more. Everyone is different. 

Agree 100%.  Teams will want things done but I doubt he or his agent care, and I doubt they'll want to out too much pressure on him.