Notes: Ohtani, Snell, Arenado
12/02/2024 09:04 AM
The saga surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, continued once again this weekend, this time involving the fraudulent purchase of baseball cards.
Hallie Golden of the Associated Press reports that Mizuhara purchased around $325,000 worth of baseball cards used with Ohtani's money. Ohtani is demanding that Mizuhara return him the stolen cards along with signed collectable baseball cards.
Mizuhara had been Ohtani's interpreter and essentially his right hand man since the now three time MVP signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017. Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers during their Korea series, and Mizuhara was formally charged in April with bank fraud after stealing roughly $16 million from Ohtani's personal bank account.
Both the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani hoped that the Mizuhara controversy wouldn't be a distraction throughout the season, and it proved with the team winning the 2024 World Series and Ohtani coming away with his first career National League MVP award.
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Shohei Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers last offseason sent ripple effects throughout the baseball world, and for the Dodgers, became the foundation for a team with the aspirations of cementing a dynasty. This continued last week with the signing of two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times writes about how the Ohtani contract became a launchpad for the Dodgers to continue recruiting in the best talent on the open market.
In addition to his unprecedented on-field performance, Ohtani has gifted the Dodgers a level of financial flexibility the already-wealthy franchise had never previously experienced... The Dodgers could have signed Snell to a similar deal when he was a free agent last year, only to settle for a more cost-effective option in Glasnow. Their more assertive approach with Snell this time around points to a general shift in the team's mindset.
New York Yankees beat writer Randy Miller of nj.com appeared on WFAM to discuss St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, linking the Yankees and the Dodgers as the two most likely landing destinations for the eight time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner.
"I think St. Louis is trying to trade him... I keep hearing it's going to be the Yankees or the Dodgers. I think he's a west coast guy that would prefer to go to the Dodgers. I believe the Dodgers want him. It would be interesting to see if they make a play for Arenado, who is a sensational defensive player and still a pretty good hitter too."
