Shohei Otani Interviewing Potential Agents for Move to US

Shohei Otani still has yet to request to be posted this offseason. But his latest move makes it seem inevitable that he is coming to the majors in 2018.

For the past couple of years, Shohei Otani has been the talk of baseball. Considered the best player not currently in the majors, he has earned the enviable nickname of the Japanese Babe Ruth due to his prowess on the mound and with the bat. Baseball fans have been waiting with a great deal of anticipation for Otani to make his way stateside and come to the majors.

That wait appears to be drawing to a close. Although he has yet to request to be posted, Otani is reportedly interviewing agents to represent him when it comes time to negotiate a contract. This set of interviews may well be the first round, with Otani looking to narrow down the field afterwards.

These interviews, much like Otani himself, are shrouded in mystery. While it is fair to wonder why Otani would forgo a chance to make far more money as a free agent in a couple of seasons, he has repetitively stated his intention to play against the best. All that is really known is that he wants to be a two way player, with those teams willing to give him that chance rating higher on his list.

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This comes on the heels of the parade of teams heading to Japan to watch Otani on the mound. While he has missed time this year due to various leg ailments, Otani has still displayed the ability that has made him such an intriguing talent. Sixteen teams have been confirmed as scouting the phenom, and have been jockeying to acquire additional signing bonus money to ink him this offseason.

Of course, at this point, this is all speculation. Otani may well change his mind, staying in Japan for another couple of years, until he becomes a free agent. However, given his comments, and how the money does not appear to matter to him, speculation has him coming stateside this offseason.

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Interviewing agents for such a move is only going to fuel those rumors. However, at long last, that wait to see Shohei Otani in the majors may be coming to an end.