Tyrus discussed free agents potentially being hesitant to sign in San Francisco based on the state of the city.
Shohei Ohtani’s free agency was the talk of baseball over the past year because the two-way star possesses talents not seen in decades.
Ohtani announced Dec. 9 he would join the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, a team in Orange County.
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, a deal that was offered to him by other teams.
The San Francisco Giants offered Ohtani a similar deal, but the Japanese star chose to remain in Southern California.
GIANTS LEGEND HINTS ‘CRIME,’ ‘DRUGS’ IN BAY AREA PLAYED ROLE IN SHOHEI OHTANI SPURNING THEM FOR DODGERS
Newly acquired Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani poses for a photo as he is introduced at a press conference Dec. 14, 2023, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
According to Giants legend Buster Posey, the state of San Francisco at least played a role in Ohtani’s free agency decision.
While Posey told The Athletic Ohtani never expressed any concerns about the city, "there was some reservation with the state of the city right now" within Ohtani’s camp.
"Something I think is noteworthy, something that unfortunately keeps popping up from players and even the players’ wives is there’s a bit of an uneasiness with the city itself, as far as the state of the city, with crime, with drugs," Posey told The Athletic in a phone interview.
"Whether that’s all completely fair or not, perception is reality. It’s a frustrating cycle, I think, and not just with baseball. Baseball is secondary to life and the important things in
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