Comments on: Shohei Otani to sign with major league team

By: geoknows

geoknows — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:41:05 +0000

I don’t think this will post in the right place, but this is for randomdigits…Pitching in the KBO or indie ball will not allow him to sign for a higher bonus next year, as that is also not permitted under the new CBA. They have done everything to squelch any circumnavigation of the spending caps.

By: jayquintana

jayquintana — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:33:55 +0000

This will be interesting. But right now, he’s a golfer who can drive 300 yards but doesn’t have much of a short game. In other words, he’s far from a sure thing.

By: Detroit Michael

Detroit Michael — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:31:38 +0000

Junichi Tazawa signed with the Boston Red Sox as a Japanese amatuer, but he didn’t sign right of out of high school.

I wonder if the Japanese professional leagues will be OK with Otani signing with an American organization. For example, last off-seaon the Orioles essentially got themselves blacklisted from South Korea by signing one of that country’s amateur players.

By: randomdigits

randomdigits — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:01:08 +0000

Which is a flat 2.9 million this season, to include what teams spent last summer.

If I was advising this kid I would have him pitch in the KBO or even independent league ball in the U.S. this season.

If he could sign with a team next year he could get 5 million or so signing bonus.

By: D.J. Short

D.J. Short — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:45:58 +0000

Yes, he can sign as a free agent. No posting fee involved. However, teams are subject to the international spending cap.

By: slartibartfast4242

slartibartfast4242 — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:40:58 +0000

So, how does this work with the new CBA? Can he sign as a free agent or is he subject to the amateur draft?

By: slartibartfast4242

slartibartfast4242 — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:38:40 +0000

Yeah, I think the problem is them being “japanise.”

By: chuckleberry1974

chuckleberry1974 — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:23:32 +0000

THYe last bit of the article answered that question, he’d be the first one. Also, Once entering tyhe Japanese leagues, Japanese born players are required to spend 9 years before becoming free agents. That’s why Ichiro was 27 when he came over with no posting fee. I think it’d be awesome if this kid signed with a ML club. One with a lot of good young pitching. One that surprised everyone this year, on the East Coast. With pitching guru Rick Peterson overseeing his development…

By: xmatt0926x

xmatt0926x — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 19:41:36 +0000

Come on Ruben Amaro. You like to overspend on old guys. Try it with a young guy for once….

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:11:45 +0000

You’re both right. They only pitch once a week; however, they tend to be overworked when they actually pitch. 150 pitch games are common, especially for the best pitchers, and some high school tournaments see absurd things like 170 pitch games and two days later another 150 pitches are thrown.

By: dodger88

dodger88 — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:07:34 +0000

I thought it was the opposite – typically Japanese pitchers go once per week as opposed to every 5 days, thus they become overworked in the Majors. Unless they have higher pitch counts in their once per week outings, I can’t say I am well informed on the subject.

By: 13arod

13arod — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:47:00 +0000

the yankeeys need to get him

By: 13arod

13arod — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:46:20 +0000

the red sox are always getting japanise players for some reason and they don’t turn out like superstars

By: makaylasdaddy0906

makaylasdaddy0906 — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:30:04 +0000

Let go O’s and grab this kid up put him in a rotation with bundy hammel Gonzales an Chen seems legit

By: papalurchdxb

papalurchdxb — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:10:54 +0000

with a history of being dramatically overworked being part of the Japanese baseball culture, a slightly easier, managed workload in the MiLB might be beneficial – it sounds like he has the determination to take a difficult path outside of his own country on this, so stands a chance.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

By: hammyofdoom

hammyofdoom — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:04:27 +0000

This could be really interesting. Has there ever been a Japanese pitcher go straight to the US without having pitched in the Japanese majors before? I wonder if conditioning through minor league teams associated with MLB instead of pitching 4-5 years in Japan will make any difference? Even if the Sox don’t get him I’ll probably keep an eye on him