Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Meghan L. Hall

MLB fans had so many feelings about Shohei Ohtani’s stunning deal with the Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani Dodgers Dodger (Organization) MLB Angels Baseball

Holy baseball, Batman. Shohei Ohtani is staying in southern California but as a Los Angeles Dodger.

The former Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers have struck a deal, Ohtani announced Saturday on his Instagram page. The move has been speculated about all off-season, and according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, it’s a 10-year, $700 million deal.

A lot of effort was put into figuring out where Shohei was signing after the star made it known that he would take it personally if any team leaked that they met with him. That decision led some dedicated folks to track the whereabouts of a plane he might have been on — turns out, he wasn’t — for any small details that might indicate his new home.

It also led to J.J. Watt calling out the media for complaining about how secretive the whole thing was. (Yeah, the baseball world was down BAD.)

But MLB fans finally have their answer after weeks of unrest:

In his Instagram caption, Ohtani wrote:

To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process. Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever.

And to all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself. Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world.

There are some things that cannot be conveyed in writing, so I would like to talk more about this again at a later press conference.

Thank you very much

Here's how they reacted to Shohei Ohtani signing with the Dodgers:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Jimmy Carter isn’t awake every day but ‘experiencing the world as best he can,’ grandson says
‘There is no other place in the world that he would be at peace other than Plains,’ his grandson said
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Taylor Swift Reportedly "Insisted" on One Colorful 'Eras Tour' Outfit Detail
The creative director behind the looks explains it all.
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
“You kept asking for more and the time has finally come”: Grunge’s favourite S-style is making a comeback as G&L Guitars announces the return of the Jerry Cantrell-approved Rampage
“Get ready for the next era of the rampage,” says G&L supremo David McLaren, as the Fullerton-based brand bows to public demand to resurrect the classic electric
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
Are you dating a narcissist? Here’s a quick test to find out
‘If you actually care about any of those answers, you’re about as far from a narcissist as possible,’ relationship expert claims
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Ryan Reynolds fulfills his mom’s lifelong wish by attending a taping of The View
‘I try to do what she says because you don’t know what she’s capable of,’ Reynolds said about his mother
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
SpaceX's Inspiration4 astronauts got genetically younger in space: study
Scientists have found that the members of the first all-civilian space mission, Inspiration 4, got genetically younger during their stay in space. But the effects did not last long.
Space
Space
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play