The signings of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, arguably the highest two free brokers this offseason, had a polarizing impact. Many inside the trade joined the Dodgers’ group and its followers in cheering the focus of star energy in a significant market. Others painted the Dodgers as baseball’s new villains.
Adore it or hate it, the reunion of the two WBC teammates in Los Angeles is upon us. Yamamoto and Ohtani ought to assist Los Angeles contend for World Sequence titles for years.
Among the many extra vocal critics of the signings: San Diego Padres beginning pitcher and former Dodger Yu Darvish.
Darvish broke his silence on the signings recently, and he appeared annoyed that the 2 Japanese gamers determined to affix the Dodgers. His frustration appeared pointed extra at his personal group. Particularly, he named Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller in his critique.
San Diego wasn’t a significant participant within the sweepstakes for both free agent regardless of Darvish’s plea. After spending their strategy to baseball’s third-highest payroll in 2023, the Padres needed to cut back in order to align their player payroll with MLB’s debt service rule. Nonetheless, for Darvish, it’s understandably tough to abdomen seeing two countrymen head to a direct rival.
If Preller and Darvish spoke in regards to the staff going after these two this winter, it’s not a good look on the Padres. Darvish is aware of first-hand how proficient every of those gamers is, and now he must face them till — in concept — the tip of his main league profession.
In fact, the Dodgers are completely ecstatic that they landed the highest two free brokers on the open market. After sitting out final offseason, L.A. came into this winter with a plan, and they have executed it perfectly so far.
The Dodgers-Padres rivalry needs to be extra attention-grabbing going ahead in mild of Darvish’s feedback. The 2 sides already weren’t the largest followers of one another, and now the season-opening series in Korea can’t come soon enough.
Photograph Credit score: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports activities
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