The Giants fell short in their attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani, but Buster Posey believes the team’s upper management did everything in their power to land the two-way MLB superstar.
The former San Francisco star catcher, now part of the team’s ownership group, said in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggaley that the Giants are currently in a “free agent recession” after losing Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers. ”. But he believes the franchise can turn things around.
Posey, along with new Giants manager Bob Melvin, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and owner Greg Johnson, joined Ohtani at Oracle Park on Dec. 2 before the Japanese talent decided to become a free agent. I met with you. Ohtani had a chance to be special to the city of San Francisco, Posey told Baggaley in his message to the star, but even though the Giants agreed to a similar deal, Ohtani ended up spending an unusual 10 years Decided to stay in Southern California, signed a $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
“I just wanted him to understand the level of love I have for the San Francisco Giants and the city of San Francisco, and how much I’ve come to value the history here, and how much I’ve come to appreciate the history here, and how much I’ve come to appreciate the history here.” “I wanted him to understand that I wanted him to be a part of it. “It was a very unique opportunity, and obviously having him come to the Giants could have been transformative for the baseball team. I feel like it would have also given the city the boost that we were all looking for,” Posey told Baggaley. for. “
Posey told Baggaley that he didn’t think the Giants could have done more with Ohtani’s pitching, and Zaidi told reporters Tuesday that the team’s decision was due to geography. said he feels it. In Posey’s opinion, San Francisco’s reputation may be playing a role.
“What I think is worth noting, and unfortunately it keeps coming up from players and players’ wives, is that there is some anxiety in the city itself, with the state of the city, crime, drugs, etc.” explained Posy Baggery. “Perception is reality, whether it’s all completely fair or not. I think it’s a cycle of frustration, but it’s not unique to baseball. Baseball is secondary to life, It’s important. But I’ve seen it affect things as far as pursuing free agents.”
The three-time World Series champion loves the Bay Area and shares a “deep bond” with the area with his family, who recently returned from a year in Georgia, he told Baggaley. Ta. Posey believes brighter days are ahead for this city, as he believes the Giants will eventually land the superstar they’ve been searching for in free agency.
“I’m not going to pretend to know more than I do about what the turnaround is going to be, but sometimes things can happen faster than we think,” Posey told Baggerley. “COVID-19 is a perfect example of that, which has affected a lot of things, and I think it can also happen in the opposite direction, in a good way.”
This is the second time Posey has been present when the Giants pitch for Ohtani as a free agent, as San Francisco sought Ohtani’s services after the 2017 MLB season before Posey signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Ta. When Posey heard that Ohtani had decided to join the Dodgers, he told Bagley that the news was “tough” and “really disappointing.”
Posey knows that homegrown talent can win championships, as the Giants proved during his tenures in 2010, 2012 and 2014. But even if San Francisco pursues him with all his might, that doesn’t make Ohtani’s decision any less painful.
And for Posey, what better way to describe that pain than with a perfect baseball analogy?
When Baggaley asked if the Giants could have done more, Posey said, “I’ve been thinking about it ever since the news came out.” “I don’t really think so. It’s different from playing the game, but it’s similar. I always want to feel like when the game is over, whether I win or lose, I gave it a shot. I really feel like that was the case.”
“I also gave this analogy to someone: Throughout my career, I would have been better off breaking a bat and getting hit three times in a game than giving someone a lineout three times. People say ‘You did everything you could. You hit.’ The ball hit me in the nose.” “Yeah, but at the end of the day I want a result. Unfortunately I didn’t get a result.” . So we keep pushing.”
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