What Joe Kelly will charge Shohei Ohtani for No. 17
What is Shohei Ohtani thinking heading into free agency? Very, very, very few have any ideas. There is a lot of guesswork when it comes to the American League MVP's priorities and desires.
That doesn't mean we can't try and put together some of the puzzle pieces.
We could start with the last time Ohtani chose his landing spot, six years ago. But, for pure Red Sox-centric excitement, let's transport ourselves to 11 years ago when major league teams were drooling at the prospect of the then-Japanese high school star jumping straight to the big leagues.
It was then the Red Sox - led by Eddie Romero and Jon Deeble - got a meeting with Ohtani in between similar get-togethers with the Rangers and Dodgers.
"After that meeting, we thought we had a good chance to sign him," Romero told WEEI.com, having also remembered, "At the time, he was the best pitching prospect I had ever seen. He's got the highest grade I've ever given a pitcher."
Deeble shared the optimism. "I think from what I understand it would've come down to the Red Sox and the Dodgers. At that point the Dodgers had a very good relationship with him also through someone who was working for them at the time. The Red Sox were definitely one or two to be able to get him, for sure."
The Red Sox were making Ohtani the priority when it came to their international signings that year, with the excitement only amping up after being allowed to witness an actual private throwing session along with the formal get-together.
"He was quiet for most of the interview, but there was definitely a presence there," Romero said. "When he came into the room, there was plenty of presence to him. He didn't speak much, but the few questions that he asked were good questions about his preferences and how he wanted to be utilized. He was very open to ideas from our end, as well. But the coach directed most of the conversation, taking questions from the parents and asking us. It was a good conversation. It was cordial and professional."
Ultimately, however, the Yomiuri Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters drafted Ohtani and convinced him staying in Japan was the way to go, reportedly painting the picture of how bleak life in the MLB minor leagues can be thanks to long bus rides and sparse crowds.
"That was disappointing," Deeble said. "Eddie did a lot of work in this whole thing, and I did a lot of work. And Eddie's conviction in wanting to sign this guy was amazing, and the support I got from him was amazing trying to get this guy. The day we heard he was staying was tough. But I'm a big believer you have to move on and move on to the next player. We did everything we possibly could and we were right there to the end."
Still, there was going to be that chance for yet another meeting with the Red Sox five years later ... or at least that's what Boston was banking on.
The Red Sox prepared for their second go-round - including making Bruins, Celtics and Patriots jerseys with "Ohtani" on the back. But the chance never came, with the two-way star only meeting with seven teams - the Mariners, Padres, Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants and the club he ultimately signed with, the Angels.
The meetings were held in the headquarters of Ohtani's agency - CAA - and each lasted for approximately two hours. Some teams tried to take the tact of letting the player ease his way into the two-way existence, starting with hitting before ultimately getting back into pitching. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller actually learned Japanese for the meeting. Texas had the history of employing Yu Darvish, one of Ohtani's favorite players.
Location seemed to be of some importance, although the Cubs managed to separate themselves despite not only existing the Midwest, but also not possessing the designated hitter at the time.
Those who were in the meetings were universally impressed by Ohtani's attention, alertness and interest throughout what was in incredibly long run of presentations.
Now?
We can get the odds, the guesses and even such suggestions that Ohtani would really like to be closer to the New Balance Factory Outlet. But the reality is that until we start seeing which clubs Ohtani wants to prioritize and why, most everyone is flying blind. Take the last courting, for example. Why did he pick the Cubs over the team - the Red Sox - who had left such a positive impression five years earlier?
Times change and so does mindset. And, ultimately, that might not be the worse thing in the world for Craig Breslow and Co.