OCTOBER 19TH: Otani is set to decide between playing in MLB and staying in Japan on Monday, according to a report from Sanspo (Japanese link) passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker (via Twitter).
OCTOBER 11TH: High school pitcher Shohei Otani, 18, is being courted by every NPB team and at least three Major League teams, reports WEEI.com's Alex Speier. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers have all sent representatives to Japan to meet with Otani, and Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News notes that the Orioles also have interest in the right-hander.
Despite his young age, Otani is already 6'4" and 190 pounds and owns a fastball that has been clocked in the 99-100 mph range. MLB teams wouldn't have to pay a posting fee to sign Otani as he isn't contracted to any Japanese pro team.
Ooo, looks neat.
Isn’t this sort of against unspoken rules for MLB teams to go after Japanese talent like this? Isn’t this what happened with Baltimore, albeit with a Korean player?
I don’t think so. In the Korea case, their biggest issue was that the O’s didn’t let KPB know they were courting him, and that he was “underage” even though he was a high school senior.
It’s nice to see that signing Chen has had the bigger impact on the organization beyond his success on the field. We also had success with Koji, and Wada was a successful player in Japan as well despite his injury and not pitching in 2012. Hopefully we can start competing in that market as well.
The Orioles are going to have to spend Chef. Despite rumored interest in Cespedes and my rumor of Aoki. Angelos doesn’t want to cough up the coin to pay the posting fee. As for the other competitors, the Dodgers have to be cashed strapped, as well as the Rangers. The Red Sox got rid of a lot of salary with the Dodger trade. Chances are good in the early morning line (odds) for the Red Sox.
As for the here and now, I want the O’s to win tonight! Don’t really care about anything else for now.
This is different, though. He’s not under NPL contract, so there is no posting fee. This is one that Angelos might let DD have some coin.
The O’s biggest issue in Korea that got them into trouble was targeting athletes before they graduated from HS and nearly got ALL of their scouts banned from the country.. Nothing else..
Some countries (Pacific Rim IFA) actually place a higher priority on an education than some busco getting some kid to run 60yd dashes and hit BP who cannot even read and write…
Yeah thought mlb wasnt supposed to go after Japanese amateur players.but it is interesting thought
100 @ 18 yrs old.
You’re remembering the ill feeling in Japan when the Red Sox signed Junichi Tazawa!
Shohei Otani is loosely translated as “Sidd Finch”. 100 mph at age 18?
Dylan Bundy. It happens.
Brian Taylor. It happens.
Taylor threw very hard right up until he was in that car accident.
What car accident?
Taylor destroyed his shoulder in a bar fight.
Then apparently I didn’t recall correctly.
Let’s go Red Sox, get this done!
My money’s on the Dodgers.
It wouldn’t surprise me. The new management has shown that they are willing to go out and be competitive in signing international prospects unlike McCourt.
Some additional tidbits: The Dodgers sent Logan White to talk with Otani and his family and tried to sell him on the Dodgers’ track record signing players from Japan. The Rangers sent Jim Colborn, who used to be the pitching coach and scout for the Dodgers, and who speaks Japanese (and was responsible for some of the Dodgers success with signing players from Japan). Also, if Otani skips the NPB draft he forfeits eligibility for the Japanese baseball draft for three years. Big decisions for a very young man. If he does decide to come here, I’d give an edge to the Rangers.
Boston better keep their interest in him. That could be a serious arm to add to the system.
They have 19YO Frank Montas throwing 100mph and he has -0- clue which direction (pretty much) the ball is even going after he throws it.
Just because some of the 18-19YO kids have 1 pitch, a 98-100mph fb that they can’t control does not make them really good prospects, unless everything about how they approach the game can be torn down, rebuilt and that velocity maintained and then add at least 1 workable off speed pitch to the mix.
That’s why I said “could”
Boston. Done.
Then years later we’ll find out by age 18 he’s logged five 200+ innings seasons with injury problems galore.
He ‘ll undoubtedly want to follow his hero Yu Darvish and play for the Rangers. All other teams need not apply.
Dodgers and Hideo Nomo or Hiroki Kuroda?
And Ishii.
Don’t forget about Saito as well
I was gonna add Saito after but didn’t want to edit my post haha. Good call
Maybe so, and that is the sales pitch (so to speak) that the Dodgers will use. But none of these players are around anymore, some of them pitched before Otani was even born, and for a young man from Japan it will probably be important for him to have someone he can talk to other than his translator. That’s why I give an edge to the Rangers.
Thats no doubt part of the Rangers pitch. At the same time, the Dodgers will more than likely say they have developed all these guys into top MLB players and they have had nice careers either in LA or elsewhere. It’ll be interesting, no doubt
One more thing: remember, He isnt going to start in the majors. So while Darvish can talk to him, he isnt going to be rooming with him or something
But these guys are legends in Japan, most notably Nomo
I get that, but I imagine the homesick and culture shock factors would loom large. He’s just a teenager, and evidently has never been out of Japan. By the same token, LA has a large Japanese population. I think that’s one of the reasons Kuroda felt comfortable here.
Rangers can stay home and just watch other teams play playoff ball
and now you can join us with just as great of a collapse, just on a bigger stage.
Collapse? What losing to a team that just happened to beat the Oakland Athletics and JUST happened to represent the American league in the World Series? No that is not called a collapse that is simply called losing to the better team. You want to know what is a collapse? The Rangers losing their vast lead in the division and then being forced into submission by the Orioles.
Red Sox. Down 0-3. All I need to say. Most wins in the AL this year, get swept. This is where you mention all your rings. It is the yank comeback to everything.
Yeah, except you weren’t referring to that collapse at first. Your first comment implies that you are referring to the Yankee-Detroit series which was not a collapse at all the Yankees simply lost to the team which was playing better at the time. As for collapses let’s not forget that your Rangers were one out away from winning the World series…TWICE and they still can’t get it done.
SWEEP!
This kid wont sign with any MLB, he wont leave his family at such age. Remember that even for 25-30yrs old have admitted is a difficult culture for them.
A couple of mil might get him to change his mind. It’s what gets international players here in the first place: money.
It would certainly get me more inclined to go. It’s not like you’re going to an underdeveloped country. At that age, it’ll be like moving out of home for college. Plus, you’re more inclined to move and travel when you’re young.
In the end, they’re doing it for their families because they would make so much more here.
I wouldn’t call transitioning from the japanese culture to the american culture “like moving out of home for college”
Tell it to the thousands of Japanese students studying abroad.
Unlikely Predication: Angels spend their first international dollar in three years on this guy.
It wasn’t stated, but the Angels and Orioles also scouted him and had reps travel to meet with him. Heck, this may be worth the risk for a few teams if there’s no posting fee.
Also consider this part:
“Every team will have $2.9MM to spend on international bonuses this offseason, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
Eventually the limits will be in the $1.8-5MM range, according to
Passan. Starting in 2013-14, teams will be able to trade money from
their spending allowance for international players, according to Passan (all Twitter links). However, teams can only boost their original spending limit by 50% through trades. ”
mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/cba-details-luxury-tax-…
*Since Otani is not signed to an NPB team, he does not go through the posting system, BUT he counts towards international bonuses.
No shot
Cashman…where are you at?
If he throws that hard and has that type of body at 18, I can’t believe that EVERY team isn’t after him. You’d be moronic not to be.
Depends on how much you are willing to pay. Since Otani is not signed to a NPB team, he does not go through the posting system, but he falls under the new international spending rules.
It might suck for MLB if he signs with an NPB team, BUT that would be good for Japanese baseball.
Right… doesn’t mean that not every team wants him. Is just that some teams prefer not to spend millions on one amateur player and simply step out of the ring
It’s interesting because every team has a $3 million international signings cap for the year. Maybe some team will use their entire budget on him if he is that good.
There is some rule that not all guys apply to that pool. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but he may not be part of it
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the pool doesn’t apply to guys who are pitching in NPB and it doesn’t affect the posting system in Japan (so the Yu Darvish posting and contract can happen under the new CBA).
Otani’s an amateur so the pool should apply there.
It might make financial sense for Otani to pitch in NPB for a few years and then venture into MLB when he’s no longer subject to the IFA signings cap, considering that he’d probably have to spend time in the minors before pitching in the MLB.
After asking around, yes you are correct it seems. It could make sense for him to pitch, but that does eventually require teams to post him, something they may do at their pace, not his
Personally, I don’t like it. The unwritten agreement exists for a reason.
what are you a wise-guy or something? geeet outta heeere
So let me understand this. No posting fee so its based on that new rule where teams top out at 3 million. so this is going to be about persuasion not money?
basically, yes
I’m surprised to not see the Cubs on the list. They’re looking for “waves” of pitching talent and “power arms.” This sounds like something they’d be all over. That said, I’m surprised there weren’t three teams mentioned that were NOT in on the kid.
Yeesh, what a decision at 18 o.o
I’d say he should come to Boston, but come on, that’s just not happening.
Wish Atlanta would go after him… we could use another good pitching prospect, especially a power arm.
They have enough
You can never have too much pitching.
cant believe astros not in on this. kinda disappointing for a fan
come to the Dodgers please
I wish my Mets would show interest but all they do is sign players with high character these days
If the Dodgers get Otani, that would be awesome! Dodgers would really be starting to stockpile some impressive international arms: Julio Arias from Mexico, Cuban Onelkis Garcia and then Otani.
I would give Kasten HUGE props if he can get all those arms. All power arms with some high ceilings.
I totally agree.In terms of money if he looks at the future he will see the potential of growth in earnings with the Dodgers. Yes it would be awesome AND consistent with new ownerships stated goals.
Here we go Rangers, here we go!! (clap, clap)
Impressive stuff but as we’ve seen in the past sometimes some of these foreign players have trouble adjusting to the new culture and increased talent level which makes it that much more difficult of a transition.
Red Sox have had better lucky with these young, low cost Japanese pitchers. Tazawa was our best pitcher this year.
I would imagine if this 18 year old can throw 100 then every MLB team would be interested unless there is something being left out there. Still if it isn’t for a lot of money i would like the red sox to give him a contract
He is coming to MLB. Way too much cash to pass up.
This is definitely a unique situation simply because of his age. He’s not going to come over and pitch in the majors for a few years. It’s not like Dice-K or Darvish. Even without a posting fee, it will be interesting to see what teams are willing to pay for a kid who will be in the minors for awhile. The Dodgers already showed they’re willing to pay big money (Puig 7/42 million) for someone who can’t contribute for awhile.