Shohei Otani May Come Available Earlier than Expected
By David Hill
At this point, we know Shohei Otani will be posted. The only question is when that will happen. It may be sooner than expected.
The baseball universe is waiting with bated breath as Shohei Otani appears destined to be posted. The Nippon Ham Fighters announced they would acquiesce to his desire to come to America, fulfilling his dream of joining Major League Baseball. A true two way threat, Otani is the type of ballplayer the likes of which we have not seen in generations.
However, the timing of when Otani could come to the Majors has been in question. The most recent posting agreement has expired, leaving Otani twisting in the wind. He is easily the most talented option on the market, but the timing of his availability has been questioned. Without a new agreement, Otani is stuck in Japan, whether or not the Fighters want to post him.
Meanwhile, teams would be waiting for Otani to come free. The possibility of his signing could hold up the signing of other international talent, repercussions that few desire. That situation could be avoided, as the MLBPA has set a deadline of Monday for negotiations on the posting system.
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It is understandable as to why the MLBPA would be interested in the posting system, particularly in Otani’s case. While Nippon Ham would get $20 Million, Otani is limited to a maximum of approximately $3.5 Million in a signing bonus. That difference is sure to catch the attention of the union.
Setting that deadline could also bring Otani to the majors a bit earlier. He could end up signing with a team sometime at the beginning of December, allowing those interested to know if they have that potential top of the rotation starter and power hitting DH/outfielder. Considering the bargain that his salary could end up becoming, this would allow those teams to focus on building up other areas of their roster as well.
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The Shohei Otani saga may begin to have a resolution soon. The MLBPA wants to have a new posting agreement within the next few days, speeding up Otani’s possible arrival.