Ohtani adds yet another valuable skill: recruiting
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LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani has been a Dodger for only a week, but he has wasted little time sliding into a new role as team recruiter.
Ohtani played his part in making the trade for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot happen by recording a video message for Glasnow, encouraging him to agree to what ended up being a five-year, $136.5 million extension. It was something the two-way superstar was happy to do on account of how highly he thinks of Glasnow, according to Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes.
“[Ohtani] said he wants me to come on the team and hopes to hit some home runs for me and join me in the pitching staff the following year,” Glasnow said during his introductory Zoom with media on Monday.
“... What he's able to do on a baseball field, it's nothing short of just insanity. So it was cool, and it definitely added a lot of points for me to go to the Dodgers. So I think his recruitment worked.”
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This wasn’t even Ohtani’s first time pitching a player on joining the Dodgers, and he should have plenty more chances this offseason, as the team is far from done adding. Glasnow is an impact arm who bolsters the front end of the rotation, but that remains the biggest area of need for Los Angeles and there will be more moves coming on that front.
“We're still looking to add talent and continuing to examine all avenues on the starting pitching front,” said Gomes. “And, ultimately, it's just about continuing to add as much pitching talent and depth as we possibly can. So we'll see how the coming weeks, months play out.”
The addition of Margot doesn’t mean the Dodgers are done adjusting their outfield for next season, either. Gomes indicated that they will continue to monitor the corner outfield market and, if the right opportunity presents itself, the club will act. Regardless, Margot should still see plenty of playing time.
“I think [Margot’s] ability to play anywhere is super helpful,” Gomes said. “So depending on what [manager Dave Roberts] is thinking in the lineup construction, there's different avenues for him to get out there. And our sense is that he will get a ton of reps. And how that exactly looks come regular season is TBD. … The fact that he's an elite defender and puts together a really good at-bat in a box is very helpful for constructing the rest of the team.”