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If Shohei Ohtani wants privacy, he should sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Privacy is the word that keeps coming up as the talking heads of the sports world talk about what Ohtani really wants and the truth is, he’ll have more privacy here than in Los Angeles.

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Toronto is a major media centre but it isn’t Hollywood, and both the media and fan culture are different here.

When Toronto FC was trying to sign Lorenzo Insigne, one of the big draws was that he and his family would have a more private life in Toronto. Insigne was one of the biggest stars in Italian soccer, he was mobbed in Italy any time he was in public, which was problematic.

When TFC President Bill Manning went to Naples to try and sign Insigne in late 2021, Manning and his wife Jennifer met with Insigne and his wife Genoveffa at a Naples restaurant. Just to ensure some level of privacy, both parties had to enter and exit the restaurant by a door in the back and be kept away from any seats with a window view.

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That’s not something that Insigne has to deal with anymore – he doesn’t have to worry about his family in the same way and they can all lead a much more normal life in Toronto.

They can go to restaurants, they can go out in public, and while he gets noticed, it isn’t the mob treatment he received in Naples.

For Ohtani, it would be the same thing – as many members of the Raptors, Leafs or Blue Jays can attest.

Kevin Gausman signed with the Jays in 2022 and has embraced the city, exploring it thoroughly and remarking online at what fascinates him.

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Kyle Lowry loved his time in Toronto playing with the Raptors and he raised his young kids here. Serge Ibaka embraced Toronto and fell in love with it.

William Nylander takes the subway to Scotiabank Arena for Leafs games, he goes to his local dog park and people don’t bother him. Austin Matthews doesn’t like to ride the subway, but he too has been spotted around town walking his dog without being harassed by fans or the media.

It is simply the culture here.

Sure, some fans will say hello, they might tell the players how much they appreciate what they do on the ice, and I’m sure the odd one will ask for an autograph, but it is not the relenting mob presence that happens in some other cities.

Canada and Toronto are just different that way.

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As the Sun’s Rob Longley has pointed out, the area around the Rogers Centre is perfect for the near monastic lifestyle Ohtani seems to prefer. He likes to go from home to the clubhouse during the season to work out and prepare for games.

There are plenty of living options in the area that would offer proximity and privacy to Ohtani while keeping him close to what will soon be the biggest and most up-to-date clubhouse facility in Major League Baseball.

Every team is offering Ohtani great money, but what the Blue Jays can offer is a great city, the privacy Ohtani desires and a shot at winning the World Series in the next few years.

Shohei, come to Toronto.

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