Otani to be posted

[jacksonianmarch]

Shohei Otani, the white whale, the Japanese unicorn, the slugger who can throw 100mph with a sick slider, will be coming to the bigs this offseason. He will not wait two more years and get the big contract. He will be posted and be subject to the MLB signing rules. This will limit his earnings significantly. That being said, he will still require some money to sign. The Yankees are considered the favorites, although they cannot allocate the most money his way. NY has slowly and quietly acquired extra bonus money in deals. Thy dealt Yefry Ramirez and Matt Wotherspoon to BAL for money and they got $1.5 mil in bonus money in the Gray trade. They've spend around $3.5 mil on their INTL FA's this year and should be able to offer what will amount to their full pretrade slot (about $4.5 mil) to get him. MLB had said it will crack down on any attempts to bypass this rule, but the unioj would have a field day if the MLB tries to punish any signing team from "extending" Otani early in his career. It will be interesting for sure.

 

Masahiro Tanaka was quoted as saying Otani is a really good hitter, but he is a pitcher in the end. Either way, a DH that can be a front line starter is an interesting thing for sure. I'd love to see him in the Bronx

[moonslav59]

Shohei Otani, the white whale, the Japanese unicorn, the slugger who can throw 100mph with a sick slider, will be coming to the bigs this offseason. He will not wait two more years and get the big contract. He will be posted and be subject to the MLB signing rules. This will limit his earnings significantly. That being said, he will still require some money to sign. The Yankees are considered the favorites, although they cannot allocate the most money his way. NY has slowly and quietly acquired extra bonus money in deals. Thy dealt Yefry Ramirez and Matt Wotherspoon to BAL for money and they got $1.5 mil in bonus money in the Gray trade. They've spend around $3.5 mil on their INTL FA's this year and should be able to offer what will amount to their full pretrade slot (about $4.5 mil) to get him. MLB had said it will crack down on any attempts to bypass this rule, but the unioj would have a field day if the MLB tries to punish any signing team from "extending" Otani early in his career. It will be interesting for sure.

 

Masahiro Tanaka was quoted as saying Otani is a really good hitter, but he is a pitcher in the end. Either way, a DH that can be a front line starter is an interesting thing for sure. I'd love to see him in the Bronx

 

The Sox have been quietly acquiring extra bonus money as well. It could be a big showdown.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I bet the Padres or the Twins swoop in and get him at the last moment, just to really throw everyone for a loop.

[jacksonianmarch]

It might be. I don't think SD or MIN will be able to. The Yankees have effectively their entire slot to work with. Otani is said to love the spotlight.

 

Here's what I think happens. NYY signs Otani for $4 mil. After year 1, we sign him to a 7 year contract with 2 option years. MLB will be upset, but the players union will argue that NY is extending him and not circumventing the rules. Eventually, the Yankees are slapped with a minor INTL signing penalty for a season

[Slasher9]

his foray into MLB he may opt for an NL team since he enjoys swinging the bat.

when he becomes a FA down the road he may look to the highest bidder regardless of league....

[jacksonianmarch]

His best chance to play everyday and pitch is the AL. He can DH 4 days a week and pitch the other. Nobody is going to let him play the field four games then pitch the fifth

[Hugh2]

The Sox have been quietly acquiring extra bonus money as well. It could be a big showdown.

 

This is true, but we've also spent about $7 million as well.

[Station 13]

His best chance to play everyday and pitch is the AL. He can DH 4 days a week and pitch the other. Nobody is going to let him play the field four games then pitch the fifth

 

I don't see that happening. Plus his hitting won't be close here.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Scouts have compared his hitting profile to Christian Yellich. That's no slouch.

[moonslav59]

This is true, but we've also spent about $7 million as well.

 

What's important is what is left vs what the Yanks have left and who gives the best wink-wink-nod-nod promise of an extension.

[Hugh2]

His best bet to play every day is to be a position player in the N.L. or A.L. Whoever gets him is going to commit to him playing one side of the ball.

 

I'm not really sure we see a "wink wink, nod" I can see an understanding to have an early extension buying out some arbitration years but that type of collusion is illegal and the Sox have been caught enough lately.

 

I also doubt any "wink wink" contract would hold weight if he blows out his elbow in a year.

[Northern Star]

I don't see that happening. Plus his hitting won't be close here.

 

We can all get a hit off Japanese pitching.

[Northern Star]

I bet the Padres or the Twins swoop in and get him at the last moment, just to really throw everyone for a loop.

 

Twins might be gunshy on Asian players after Park not panning out as hoped.

[jacksonianmarch]

I know the Yanks will be involved and I know they have a significant amount of money available

[Youk Of The Nation]

Twins might be gunshy on Asian players after Park not panning out as hoped.

 

I was kidding. I picked those two teams because they have little money compared to others and a very thin history of signing expensive, flashy free agents. Obviously it will be the Sox, Yanks, Dodgers, or someone along those lines. The Marlins or the A's or the Rays probably aren't getting in on this kind of thing. I'm pretty sure the Twins park only stays open because they're using solar panels to sell electricity back to the power company and the Padres are paying Wil Myers by returning all of the beer cans left on the ground to the grocery store after each game.

[moonslav59]

What's the most anyone can offer this guy under the current rules?

[Northern Star]

After the Dice-K debacle, I want the Sox staying far away from "can't miss" Japanese superstars.

[moonslav59]

After the Dice-K debacle, I want the Sox staying far away from "can't miss" Japanese superstars.

 

Is this guy his identical twin or something?

 

Good thing we gave Papi and Manny a chance after Jose Offerman's flop.

[Spudboy]

That was weak sauce for you Moon.

 

Anyways, I'm kind of sick of the Sox chasing all the shiny brass rings from other countries.

 

I have not seen a lot of value in those deals nor have I seen a big return for trading them with the exception of Sale.

[moonslav59]

That was weak sauce for you Moon.

 

Anyways, I'm kind of sick of the Sox chasing all the shiny brass rings from other countries.

 

I have not seen a lot of value in those deals nor have I seen a big return for trading them with the exception of Sale.

 

I thought linking all Japanese players to Dice-K's flop was tremendously weak. There have been plenty of Japanese success stories.

 

We've had so many international signing successes, I don't know where to begin. Most have been from Latin America, especially the really good ones. We've also had some pretty good success with Asian player signings. I'm not sure we win in 2013 without Uehara. True, he was proven already, unlike fresh signings, but he and many others prove the gamble is not an impossible gamble.

 

Remember, we signed Okajima the same year as Dice-K. He was a good signing- very good. The Tazawa signing a couple years later worked out well, too.

 

Our Top Latin American Signings (many more were failures):

HRam (brought us Beckett & Lowell)

Doubront

Bogaerts

F Montas

Margot (helped get Kimbrel)

Moncada (helped get Sale)

Castillo

Devers

 

[Spudboy]

I thought linking all Japanese players to Dice-K's flop was tremendously weak. There have been plenty of Japanese success stories.

 

We've had so many international signing successes, I don't know where to begin. Most have been from Latin America, especially the really good ones. We've also had some pretty good success with Asian player signings. I'm not sure we win in 2013 without Uehara. True, he was proven already, unlike fresh signings, but he and many others prove the gamble is not an impossible gamble.

 

Remember, we signed Okajima the same year as Dice-K. He was a good signing- very good. The Tazawa signing a couple years later worked out well, too.

 

Our Top Latin American Signings (many more were failures):

HRam (brought us Beckett & Lowell)

Doubront

Bogaerts

F Montas

Margot (helped get Kimbrel)

Moncada (helped get Sale)

Castillo

Devers

 

 

I never said that the Sox never got anything good from Japan.

 

Certainly Oki and Taz worked out well.

 

I was referring to the big ticket guys.

 

Also, I am of the belief that good talent remains in abundance in our own country.

 

I don't see a need to be in on every so called lock from any country. It's one thing to be competitive, another to be irresponsible with gobs of money.

[a700hitter]

I never said that the Sox never got anything good from Japan.

 

Certainly Oki and Taz worked out well.

 

I was referring to the big ticket guys.

 

Also, I am of the belief that good talent remains in abundance in our own country.

 

I don't see a need to be in on every so called lock from any country. It's one thing to be competitive, another to be irresponsible with gobs of money.

And let's not forget the who Japanese market that it opened for the Red Sox...not! Dice K's $102 million contract and acquisition cost was very big for the day and it was a big waste. It brought in no market or $ from japan.

[BstHcpr]

I never said that the Sox never got anything good from Japan.

 

Certainly Oki and Taz worked out well.

 

I was referring to the big ticket guys.

 

Also, I am of the belief that good talent remains in abundance in our own country.

 

I don't see a need to be in on every so called lock from any country. It's one thing to be competitive, another to be irresponsible with gobs of money.

 

I think the max bid is capped at $10,000,000. That's the price of a reliever in today's market. I would take a gamble at the price.

[OH FOY]

He's one of the best hitters in Japan too. Lot of Power.

[jacksonianmarch]

The max bid is whatever is left in your INTL budget. Small market teams start with close to $6 mil. Big markets (here's looking at us) start at around $5 mil (I think $4.75 mil). You can trade for another sum (I think 75% above cap). I know NY has another $4-5 mil left in their budget as they have spent under $3 mil and obtained the max allotment in a series of deals this season.

[OH FOY]

Just read the Sox have $462,000 remaining in their International Bonus Pool. No chance on this kid. It places the Sox 11th out of 30 teams.

[Jack Flap]

After the Dice-K debacle, I want the Sox staying far away from "can't miss" Japanese superstars.

 

Did you feel the same about Darvish?

[OH FOY]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/08/texas-can-pay-most-for-otani-followed-by-yankees-and-twins/107466070/

 

He should wait 2 years.

Edited November 10, 2017 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/08/texas-can-pay-most-for-otani-followed-by-yankees-and-twins/107466070/

 

He should wait 2 years.

 

I think he just wants in now.

 

I can't blame him.

 

We tend to think it's all about money, and who knows how much he can make here with endorsements, but playing in the best baseball league in the world is every baseball player's dream.

 

That being said, just because he's turning down a lot of money by coming to the bigs now, doesn't mean he won't grab the best deal offered.

 

I doubt we get him.

 

I'm not trying to sound cold and heartless here, but we spent $3.1M on Flores. I wonder what better chance we'd have had for Otani, had we not signed Flores.

[Jack Flap]

I've seen it asked in other places whether, in light of the awful news about Flores, the Red Sox could petition the league for some sort of hardship exemption regarding their international bonus limit. We spent $3.1 million on a kid who sadly will never play a game for the organization, and getting a credit back for all or part of that money could allow us at least a fighting chance at Otani. Not sure if there's any precedent for that sort of move (I'm guessing not), and I feel like a s***** person for even thinking about it...but the business side of things does go on even in the face of tragedy.