Why did Shohei Ohtani get booed against the Blue Jays? The free-agency sweepstakes that brought dislike to the Dodgers star

Before Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he spiked significant levels of interest among multiple teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, whose fans were left disappointed with how everything turned out.

Their dissatisfaction was apparent during Friday's game at the Rogers Centre when Ohtani arrived at the plate and was met with boos from the crowd. In turn, Shotime responded with a home run, silencing them.

This incident gives cause to revisit Ohtani's much-anticipated free agency and how it unfolded, leaving fans saddened in Toronto. The Blue Jays were among the frontrunners in the sweepstakes for Shohei Ohtani in the offseason.

The entire saga started on Dec. 8, following a rumor that Ohtani was on a flight from Anaheim to Toronto. A social media account found a private plane leaving John Wayne Airport for Toronto, fueling the hopes of many Blue Jays fans that Ohtani was on his way to sign with their team.

Moreover, these rumors gained traction when Canadian opera singer Clarence Frazer mentioned a reservation being made at an "upscale sushi restaurant near Rogers Centre" by Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

However, more reports clarified that these were all but just rumors. Multiple sources confirmed that Ohtani was never on a flight to Toronto.

The following day, on Dec. 9, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram that he was signing with the Dodgers, squashing any rumors and hopes that Jays' fans were harboring.

Shohei Ohtani talked about the early rumors during his free agency

After Friday's game, Shohei Ohtani addressed the negative reaction he received at Rogers Center to The Athletic's Andy McCullough. Ohtani "was as surprised as any fan" when he heard his free agency rumors.

"I was just following the news," Ohtani said via interpreter Will Ireton. "I knew I wasn’t on that flight, so I was curious, too. But I did meet with the Blue Jays organization and the impression I got was it’s a really, really great organization. The fans are great and I love the city too, so I’m really looking forward to going to Toronto."

When addressing the reception, Ohtani said:

"Not surprised. Aside from how the fans may or may not think, I'm just very grateful for the teams that approached me and wanted to sign me...ultimately I could only choose one team."

Well, it's all done, and the Blue Jays may not see Shohei Ohtani in a Toronto Blue Jays jersey for at least the next decade. However, given the clarification provided by Ohtani, this should ease some of their distaste for him.