Ohtani's agent: Toronto flight reports were 'reckless'

It's been nearly a year since Shohei Ohtani signed a historic contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in what was supposed to be a quiet negotiating process that wound up becoming a media circus.

Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo recently revisited the hectic scenario, which included his client inking a $700-million deal with the Dodgers after most of the world thought he was on a plane to Toronto to become the newest member of the Blue Jays thanks to some incorrect reporting.

"I didn't want what happened to create a frenzy in the country of Canada," Balelo told USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "These are good people, quality people, and for the journalist to do what he did was so reckless. It hurt the organization, the fans of the organization, and the country of Canada.

"Organizations we were still having discussions with reached out to me, and I said, 'No, I'm not on a plane to Toronto. Shohei is not on a plane to Toronto. We are here.' The only organization that didn't reach out to me was Toronto. They knew I wasn't on a plane.

"I felt really bad for the fans, the organization, and the country because, for a minute there, they all felt he was coming. That was the biggest disappointment in the process. Everything was so seamless, so good, and for that to happen."

Balelo complimented the Dodgers for their professionalism throughout the process, as well as for understanding the true value and impact of having Ohtani join their organization.

"Look where it got them," the agent said.

The Dodgers not only won the World Series in their first season with Ohtani on the roster, but they also had MLB's highest attendance and the second-highest in Dodgers Stadium history, according to Dodgers Blue's Matthew Moreno.

"This exceeded my expectations," Ohtani said of his first campaign with the Dodgers. "Obviously, the first time I made the playoffs. We won the World Series. What more can you ask for?"