Comments on: MLB, NPB discussing new posting rules

By: crpls

crpls — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:16:43 +0000

NPB will continue to get what they get now: a posting system.

MLB is under no obligation to abide by NPB contracts. They could simply rule it open season on their players, or just go back to the Nomo/Soriano loopholes.

I mean, I doubt MLB would actually do that, even though it would help out MLB teams interested in Japanese players. But my point is that NPB doesn’t actually have any leverage here.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:48:40 +0000

After reading Passan’s piece, my question is — what would NPB get in return for for agreeing to a process that might lower its teams’ rights fees? Guaranteeing them might be something NPB might demand.

That said, I agree with raysfan. To make a big bid, an MLB team would have to be pretty sure it could sign the player. The risk of paying the fee, then not getting the player, seems likely to discourage bidding.

By: raysfan1

raysfan1 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:43:23 +0000

Gordon–
That would tend to result in fewer teams bidding and thus result in lowering the bids further. Teams won’t bid unless they can afford to win and yet not sign the player. Teams that do bid are likely to hedge their bids for the same reason.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:12:07 +0000

And by “efficiency” you mean “individualism.”

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:57:30 +0000

NPB should require that the posting fee be guaranteed. If the team with the winning bid doesn’t strike a deal with the player, tough luck…they’re out the $35 mil or some portion of that. Seems like a fair tradeoff for taking less posting fees.