Giants miss out on two-way Japanese star Ohtani

Share

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants began this week dreaming of locking up the offseason's two biggest prizes. Now it appears they've struck out twice. 

A few hours after it was reported that Giancarlo Stanton does not want to be traded to San Francisco, Shohei Ohtani finally made his decision. The Japanese superstar will sign with the Los Angeles Angels. 

The Giants met with Ohtani on Monday in Los Angeles and felt the meeting went well. Ohtani was said to have hit it off with Buster Posey, who attended the meeting alongside team executives, and the Giants presented a plan in which Ohtani could be a top-of-the-rotation starter and also get 300 to 400 at-bats in the outfield. The American League was always more likely, though, because Ohtani can be the designated hitter when he is not pitching. 

[GALLERY: The file on Shohei Ohtani]

In a statement, Ohtani's agents at CAA said he was "humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations and sincerely thanks them for their professionalism."

"In the end, he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals in Major League Baseball," wrote Nez Balelo, Ohtani's agent. 

The Giants were hot on Ohtani as soon as it became clear he would forego hundreds of millions to come over two years early. Bobby Evans and assistant GM Jeremy Shelley visited Japan in September to scout Ohtani in person. 

San Francisco Giants

Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

Giants add two newcomers to front office, make Evans hire official

Three questions Giants must answer by end of MLB Winter Meetings

Contact Us