Japanese star pitcher and outfielder Shohei Ohtani confirmed Saturday his intentions to make the leap to Major League Baseball.
“The other day I met with team officials and stated my intentions,” Ohtani said. “My request was met with warm words of support, so I hope to do my best in America from next year on.”
Original Post – Nov. 10, 9 a.m.
The Nippon Ham Fighters have announced they will post star Shohei Ohtani.
The 23-year-old slugger and pitcher will now wait for Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball to try to figure out the rules that will govern the move.
Earlier this week it was reported that Ohtani has hired Creative Artists Agency to represent him as he plans on coming to MLB.
In the last CBA agreement, MLB put a cap on the amount foreign players under the age of 25 could be offered. Under the current system Ohtani would be looking at a max contract of around $3.535 million (Texas Rangers) when in the open market it’s estimated his value would be at least $100 million.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that MLB and NPB have reached a tentative understanding to grandfather the previous posting system for one more year.
Ohtani, left-handed hitter and right-handed pitcher, hit .332/.403/.540 in 65 games this season. Thigh and ankle injuries have limited his appearances on the mound this year, he’s gone 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 25.1 innings. In 2016, he went 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and struck out 174 batters in 140 innings.
On the mound, the Japanese Babe Ruth as they call him, features a fastball that has touched 102 MPH, plus splitter and an above average slider.
The Mets only have $105,000 left in their International Bonus Pool while the New York Yankees have the second most at $3.25 million.
