Loyalty in Baseball: The Ohtani-Soto Effect on Fans and Free Agency
December 10, 2024 - Written by Murphi Kennedy
Photo Credit : @adriangarro - X
Baseball has always been more than just a game; it’s a reflection of the values, struggles, and emotions of its fans. Loyalty, in particular, plays an outsized role in how the sport is experienced. When Shohei Ohtani left the Angels to join the Dodgers in 2024, and just a year later, Juan Soto departed the Yankees for the crosstown rival Mets, the emotional aftershocks reverberated far beyond the players’ new uniforms. Fans of both franchises were left grappling with feelings of betrayal, anger, and confusion—emotions rooted in the deeply personal connection they feel to the game.
The Myth of Loyalty in Modern Baseball
Baseball’s free agency system, at its core, challenges the idea of loyalty. Free agency gives players the opportunity to market their talents and secure the best possible deals. For Ohtani, a generational two-way talent, and Soto, one of the most electrifying hitters of his era, the chance to choose their next destination was as much about ambition and legacy as it was about dollars and cents. Yet, for fans, their decisions felt like a breach of faith.
Loyalty in sports is a two-way street. Fans invest years—sometimes decades—into their teams, forming bonds with players who feel like family. When those players leave, especially for a rival, it’s hard not to take it personally. Many see the decision as a reflection of greed, a prioritization of personal gain over the bond with the community that supported them.
But is that perception fair?
The Business of Free Agency
At its core, free agency is a business transaction. Players, like anyone else, have the right to seek better opportunities. If we take a step back, how many fans would turn down a dream job offering more money, better teammates, and a chance at greater success? The difference, of course, is that most people’s careers don’t have the same level of public scrutiny or emotional investment attached to them.
For Ohtani, choosing the Dodgers likely came down to proximity, the allure of a consistent contender, and the resources of an organization willing to build around him. Soto’s decision a year later could have stemmed from similar motivations: a stable environment, a deep roster, and the chance to shine on baseball’s biggest stage.
Yet for fans, the idea of loyalty often supersedes these practicalities. When a beloved player leaves, it’s seen as a rejection of the team, the city, and the fans who cheered for them. It’s a visceral reminder that for players, baseball is a career, but for fans, it’s a lifelong passion.
What Would You Do?
The emotional reaction to free agency often mirrors decisions we all face in our own lives. Imagine being offered a chance to join a new team—a new company—with better pay, a stronger culture, and colleagues you admire. Do you stay out of loyalty to your current job, or do you make the leap? For most, the answer is simple: you do what’s best for yourself and your family.
Yet, the dynamic changes when viewed through the lens of fandom. Loyalty, while a noble ideal, often clashes with the realities of professional sports. Fans want players to feel the same emotional connection to a franchise that they do. When a player leaves, especially for a rival, it’s seen not as a career move, but as a betrayal.
This duality—the human desire to grow and succeed versus the expectation of loyalty—lies at the heart of the Ohtani and Soto narratives. Their moves, while understandable from a professional standpoint, challenged the very foundation of what fans hold dear about the game.
The Silver Lining
If there’s any consolation, it’s that loyalty still exists in baseball—it just takes different forms. Teams like the Angels and Yankees have fiercely loyal fan bases who continue to support their franchises despite setbacks. Players like Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw have shown that long-term loyalty to a single team is still possible. And when players like Ohtani and Soto move on, they create new opportunities for young stars to rise and new stories to be written.
For fans, the key is to separate emotion from practicality. Just as we make decisions that best suit our own lives, so do players. While it may hurt to see a beloved star in a rival’s jersey, the love for the game—the camaraderie, the memories, the joy of competition—remains unchanged.
Baseball, like life, is a game of transitions. And sometimes, letting go of the past is what allows us to embrace the future. For Ohtani and Soto, their moves represent the culmination of years of hard work and the pursuit of greatness. For fans, their departures serve as a reminder that while players may come and go, the spirit of the game—and the loyalty of its supporters—endures.
Disclaimer : (1) All photos are not owned by InsideHalos and have been given proper credit beneath each photo. (2) Links of players are property of MLB. (3) InsideHalos is a fan-made site not affiliated with Angels Baseball.
