In December 2023, MLB insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network and Fox Sports reported that Shohei Ohtani was “en route to Toronto” at the time, leading to speculation that Ohtani was on the verge of signing with the Blue Jays as a free agent.
“Sources: Shohei Ohtani is en route to Toronto today,” Morosi posted Dec. 8, 2023, to social media. “A representative of his agency, CAA, would not comment when asked about Ohtani’s travel plans.”
Hours later, Morosi apologized for “reporting that included inaccurate information that Shohei Ohtani was traveling to Toronto.”
Today, I posted reporting that included inaccurate information that Shohei Ohtani was traveling to Toronto. I regret the mistake and apologize to baseball fans everywhere. I am deeply sorry for letting you down.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 9, 2023
And one day later, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract – with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fast-forward to present-day, and the Blue Jays and the Dodgers are about to battle in the 2025 World Series, with Ohtani doing legendary things for Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, the official Dodgers account posted on X, “Next stop: Toronto,” with a photo of Shohei Ohtani about to get on the team flight.”
Next stop: Toronto pic.twitter.com/eQatJIauTl
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 22, 2025
Well, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan responded to the post with, “Shohei Ohtani is en route to Toronto today.”
Shohei Ohtani is en route to Toronto today. https://t.co/VQox33i7zd
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 22, 2025
Passan never misses an opportunity on social media. But hopefully for his part, Morosi was able to laugh that one off as the baseball world was reminded of that one fleeting moment in time when we thought that one of the greatest of all time was about to sign for the Toronto Blue Jays, in what would have been one of the biggest free agent upsets in the history of sports.
Well, Shohei Ohtani will finally make his way to Toronto after all, but it will be with the Dodgers as they take on the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday night for Game 1.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.