Randy Levine admitted to being surprised by Shohei Ohtani’s decision to eliminate the Yankees from the list of MLB teams the two-way Japanese star will consider signing with.
Nevertheless, the Yankees’ team president said he didn’t view the 23-year-old avoiding New York as a major setback.
“Ohtani would have been great here, but he isn’t the only player in the world,’’ Levine said Tuesday following a Yankee Stadium press conference for the Pinstripe Bowl.
Though general manager Brian Cashman and his staff worked extremely hard to entice Ohtani to The Bronx, Levine explained that if a player doesn’t want New York, he shouldn’t talk himself into it.
“I am a great believer in if somebody doesn’t want to play here, it’s better he doesn’t play here. Not everybody can play in New York,’’ said Levine, who didn’t address new manager Aaron Boone who will be introduced Wednesday at a Stadium press conference. “There have been many players who came to New York for money that maybe shouldn’t have and many players who left New York for money that maybe shouldn’t have.’’
The most Ohtani could have signed for with the Yankees was $3.5 million, which is what the Yankees have in their international pool account. Yet, endorsements in New York figured to create an off-the-field way to earn money that might not be available to Ohtani in other cities.
“I respect his decision. I think he is an incredibly talented young man who has a big future and we all wish him well,’’ Levine said of Ohtani, who reportedly has narrowed his list of teams to the Giants, Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Cubs.
Of that group, the Rangers have the most money ($3.535 million) to give Ohtani, who has to pick a team by Dec. 22.
“We are disappointed he didn’t come here because we think this would have been a great opportunity for him,’’ Levine said. “I thought we had an opportunity. Brian Cashman and his team gave an incredible presentation. It’s up to the individual to make a decision where he wants to spend his life and we respect that.’’
Had Ohtani come to The Bronx and performed as well as some predict he will in the majors, the right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter would have helped the Yankees. Now that he will land in another uniform, the Yankees won’t spend the offseason feeling sorry for themselves.
“Everything isn’t built around one player so [Cashman’s crew] have many other plans,’’ Levine said.
Though the Yankees aren’t likely to chase after top-tier free agent starters Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta, fellow free agents Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb could be in play and there is mutual interest in CC Sabathia returning. The Yankees can also try to shed some money by dealing Jacoby Ellsbury or Chase Headley.
“It’s the Yankees, we always want to get better,’’ Levine said of the club that won 91 games and came within nine innings of getting to the World Series and then showed manager Joe Girardi the door after 10 years. “We are always looking to get better. I am sure there will be improvements.’’