World Series offers opportunity for Blue Jays to get even with Ohtani

During his free agency, there were many rumors that the Japanese star was close to signing with Toronto, until he broke the hearts of all of Canada by choosing the Dodgers.

Much has been said about all the links that exist between Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays facing the World Series 2025, but if there is one man who truly altered the recent history of both organizations, it is Shohei Ohtani.

In what was one of the most followed free agencies in all of baseball, the final decision on where the Japanese star would go, according to multiple reports at the time, was among the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. In fact, a publication by a prominent member of the sports press who covers baseball noted that “Ohtani was en route on a plane to Toronto”, which ended up being a wrong report, for which said journalist eventually apologized.

For hours, people followed, through apps and websites, a private flight that left Los Angeles for Toronto, and the whole event became crazy, until reports began to circulate indicating that Ohtani It was not on its way to Canada.

The day after the private plane incident, Ohtani announced that he would become a Dodger.

The free agency saga Ohtani left deep wounds in the fans of the Blue Jays and, of course, within the team itself, since they were willing to give him the keys to the future of the franchise. Things did not go in Toronto’s favor, and in this World Series there is an opportunity to get even, not only with the Dodgers for having taken the player, but against himself Ohtani.

And here it is likely that many people think that Blue Jays They are not thinking about that issue, but, to be honest, the statements, although in a joking tone, by the Toronto leader, John Schneiderthey tell a totally different story.

When asked about the kind of player he is Ohtani and how things ended up happening between the player and the Canadian franchise, Schneider said: “He is a great player, (but) I hope he brought us the Blue Jays cap he took from our meeting and the jacket for Decoy, you know what I’m saying? It’s like: ‘give us back our things (…)’Emphasizing, again, that he said it in a joking tone, but there is no doubt that, at least in the team’s subconscious, there is still something left from that experience.

OhtaniFor his part, he responded that he still keeps the cap in his garage and noted that he has a lot of respect for the organization. “I had a wonderful time meeting you (to the Blue Jays) cas an organization, and the impression I got is that they have a lot of class”said the Japanese through his translator.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider wants his 🧢 back… It’s in Los Angeles, in Ohtani’s garage. 😅

Remember that Ohtani visited the Blue Jays facilities when he was deciding which team he would sign with, and just a few days after that visit, he announced his… pic.twitter.com/oBkpDpOuSz

— AM850 Baseball ⚾️ (@ESPN_Beisbol) October 23, 2025

Obviously, talking about resentment or discomfort on the part of Blue Jays toward Ohtani It would be a complete exaggeration, but the words of Schneider They show that the team has not forgotten that episode of free agency. And what could be sweeter for the team than eliminating the organization that ended up taking the player from them, thus becoming champions of MLB.