The LA Dodgers made a trade and created the position of Shohei Ohtani (29)
who was acquired by investing $700 million (approximately 924.7 billion won)
the highest amount in North American professional sports history.
On the 12th (Korean time), the Dodgers announced that they had agreed to a 2-for-1 trade with the New York Yankees in exchange for reliever Victor Gonzalez and infielder Horvit Vivas in exchange for infielder Trey Sweeney.
Major League Baseball’s official website ‘MLB.com’ described this trade as “part of the ripple effect of the 10-year, $700 million contract the Dodgers signed with Ohtani.” 토토사이트
The Dodgers, who have a full 40-man roster, needed to stop traffic to make room for Ohtani.
Through this trade, the Dodgers secured the positions of Ohtani and reliever Joe Kelly
who recently signed a one-year contract worth $8 million (about 10.6 billion won).
Gonzalez, who is leaving the Dodgers, appeared in 34 games in the 2023 season and recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 4.01. Gonzalez, who debuted in the big league in 2020
has become a sure-to-win team by recording 3 wins, 1 loss, 17 holds, 1 save, and an ERA of 3.57 in 44 games in 2021.
Vivas, who plays second and third basemen, is a prospect who has not yet stepped onto the major league stage.
He played 135 games in the minor league Double A and Triple A in the 2023 season
posting a batting average of 0.269, 13 home runs, 63 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.788. recorded.
Sweeney, who wore the Dodgers uniform, was selected by the Yankees with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Sweeney played 100 games in Minor League Double A in the 2023 season
recording a batting average of 0.252, 13 home runs, 49 RBIs, 67 runs, 20 steals, and an OPS of 0.778.
Meanwhile, Ohtani signed a huge 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth a total of $700 million on the 10th.
It is the highest amount in the history of American professional sports, let alone the Major League.
Ohtani announced his decision to go to the Dodgers through his SNS and said
I apologize to all the fans and officials for taking so long to make a decision.
I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.”
Ohtani said, “First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Angels team officials
the fans who supported us over the past six years, and the officials of each team who participated in the negotiation process.
In particular, I will forever engrave the six years I spent with the Angels in my heart.” He said.
He continued, “I promise to all Dodgers fans that I will always do my best for the team, and I will do my best to be the best version of myself.
I want to continue working hard for not only the Dodgers but also the baseball world until the end of my career.
I will talk about things I cannot convey at a future press conference.
Thank you very much,” he added.
Korean fans are also excited as Ohtani wears the Dodgers uniform.
This is because Korean Major League fans also have the opportunity to watch Ohtani play in Korea right in front of their eyes.
The Major League Secretariat decided in July to hold the opening game of the 2024 season regular season in Seoul from March 20 to 21 next year.
The Major League Baseball Secretariat is holding opening games around the world to globalize baseball and promote Major League Baseball.
Next year’s event was chosen to be held in Korea, where Major League Baseball is highly popular, and considering Korea’s chilly March weather, Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul
Korea’s only dome stadium, is likely to be the venue.
Major League officials visited Gocheok Sky Dome this summer to inspect the facilities.
The opening game of the Major League Baseball held in Korea for the first time in history was a match between Kim Ha-seong’s team
the San Diego Padres, and the representative ‘pro-Korean’ team, the LA Dodgers.
Unfortunately, the match between pitcher Ohtani and batter Kim Ha-seong cannot be seen in Korea
but it is possible to create a picture of batter Ohtani hitting and infielder Kim Ha-seong receiving a batted ball.