Shohei Ohtani nearly became a Blue Jay, and the memory still stings in Toronto. Two years ago, the Blue Jays came closer than ever to landing one of baseball’s biggest stars. Having shattered records in the Dodgers’ NLCS showdown, what happened in December 2023 unfolded as a full-scale, behind-the-scenes drama that pulled in every corner of the organization.

Ohtani’s first visit back to Toronto in 2024 gave us all a glimpse of just how close it came. Blue Jays president John Schneider recalled a small but telling detail that summed up the rollercoaster of that winter.

“If anything, just tell him we want our Blue Jays hat back that he took with him after our meeting,” Schneider said, per MLB.com.

The Blue Jays pulled out every stop. Be it the empty complex in Dunedin, Fla., personalized

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