Getty Ben Verlander shared an opinion on the Dodgers' signing of Shohei Ohtani that many disagree with.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rocked the baseball world by agreeing to a 10-year, $700 million deal with superstar outfielder/pitcher Shohei Ohtani. Now, Fox Sports’ Ben Verlander is facing criticism from fans and past and present players for calling the deal “the most important signing in Dodger history.”
Many on X, formerly Twitter, were quick to point out that the Dodgers’ most impactful signing unquestionably was that of Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier as its first Black player in April 1947.
“There is no #17 without #42. Come on man,” posted Justin Turner, a free agent third basemen and member of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship team, referencing Ohtani’s and Robinson’s jersey numbers, respectively.
Turner followed up his December 19 post with one alluding to another Dodger great, Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, whose impact on Latin American fandom was profound: “Or how about #34 ? He brought an entire displaced fan base back to #TheRavine.”
Others Object to Ben Verlander’s Declaration
Appearing on the December 19 episode of his “Flippin’ Bats” podcast, Verlander said the relationship between Ohtani and the Dodgers will continue well beyond the 10 years that Ohtani is under contract. He likened Ohtani, 29, who played six years with the Los Angeles Angels, to Babe Ruth, who played six years with the Boston Red Sox but cemented his legacy with the New York Yankees.
“This goes on forever,” said Verlander, a former minor-leaguer and younger brother of future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander. “Shohei Ohtani now goes into the Hall of Fame as a Los Angeles Dodgers player. Let’s talk Babe Ruth. … He’s a guy that is almost this mythical figure. He’s a legend of the game; we see him in movies all the time and he’s in a Yankees uniform.”
“It’s the most important signing in Dodgers history.”
@BenVerlander breaks down the impact that the Shohei Ohtani-Dodgers deal will have on this season and beyond.
Former outfielder Mike Cameron, who played 17 seasons for eight teams, joined Turner in taking issue with Verlander’s statement.
“Guess what number Shohei and the rest of baseball is going to wear April 15th!” Cameron posted on X, referring to what is known as Jackie Robinson Day. “There’s a man that carried more than $700 mil on his shoulders for the history of the game period! All you had to do was add ‘Since Jackie Robinson.'”
@MLBONFOX @BenVerlander Guess what number Shohei and the rest of baseball is going to wear April 15th! There’s a man that carried more than $700 mil on his shoulders for the history of the game period! All you had to do was add “Since Jackie Robinson”🤷🏿♂️ #wepayitforward
One fan on X, replying to Turner’s initial tweet, suggested many don’t understand the historical significance of Robinson.
“This is an insane level of disrespect but it’s more of a showcase of how so many people don’t really understand the importance of Jackie or don’t care to see it. Without Jackie this sport and society to a degree aren’t what they are today…,” the fan posted.
Shohei Ohtani’s Impact Goes Beyond the Diamond
Ohtani’s impact also goes beyond purely making baseball-related moves. Los Angeles is cashing in before its prized offseason acquisition steps into the batter’s box at Dodger Stadium for the first time. FOX 11 Los Angeles noted that Ohtani’s Dodgers jersey sales broke the record for the most purchased jersey in any 48-hour period.
Verlander attempted to make the same point.
“You’re not paying $700 million for the baseball player Shohei Ohtani. You’re paying $700 million for the brand that is Shohei Ohtani,” he said. “And so much comes along with that: the marketing that you’ll be able to do forever; the people who that will go watch Dodgers games forever because Shohei Ohtani played for the Dodgers. ‘I want to go watch a baseball game where he used to play.'”