This Guy Might Be The Hottest MLB Free Agent In 2017

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  • Mr KLC
    BARRELED IN @ SBR!
    • 12-19-07
    • 31097

    #1
    This Guy Might Be The Hottest MLB Free Agent In 2017
    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Shohei Otani is what this current free-agent market lacks. He is a young, talented starter — already perceived as one of the best pitchers in the world — with the fringe benefit that he actually might be a superb hitter, as well.

    But Otani is not expected to come to the American majors until next offseason, at which point the frenzy for his services likely will make him the first Japanese import to exceed $200 million.

    “I actually think the guy might get a $300 million deal,” said a scout who has had multiple looks at the righty pitcher/lefty hitter. “That is how special a talent he is. He has power No. 1 starter stuff. He is throwing 99 [mph] in the eighth inning. His secondary stuff is unhittable. He is big and loose. His fastball is electric and his curve, cutter and split are all 70s [on the 20-80 scouting scale].

    Otani is 6-foot-4, began pitching professionally when he was 18 and this past season went 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA, 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings and — oh yeah — he hit 22 homers with a 1.004 OPS in 382 plate appearances. By the way, he does not turn 23 until July.

    The Yankees have restrained themselves from big spending in recent offseasons and have the contracts of Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia coming off the books after this season, plus Masahiro Tanaka could opt out.

    The Cubs, who pursued Tanaka, will have the contracts of starters Jake Arrieta and John Lackey coming off the books after 2017. The Dodgers will be a year away from Clayton Kershaw potentially opting out of his deal, the same with the Red Sox and David Price. The Angels will be free of their last $25 million obligation to Josh Hamilton. The Astros, who were quietly in deep on Tanaka, probably have money to spend. The Phillies definitely do.

    There was some thought Otani might come this winter, especially if Nippon Ham won the Japan Series, which they did. But I spoke to more than a dozen scouts, executives and agents who are vested in Japanese baseball and they all say next offseason is the target.




  • lolz_69
    SBR Wise Guy
    • 07-03-16
    • 664

    #2
    eh, he's not that attractive
    Comment
    • jjgold
      SBR Aristocracy
      • 07-20-05
      • 388179

      #3
      majors in USA tougher

      Not many Asian Pitchers are real studs coming here
      Comment
      • kidcudi92
        SBR Posting Legend
        • 12-14-11
        • 15434

        #4
        thats my 6th cousin
        Comment
        • DOM-Ganador
          SBR MVP
          • 05-30-12
          • 4479

          #5
          BUT, does he have the mysterious "GYRO" pitch.

          If so, the RedSox will post a couple hundo mil for him. Worked out great last time.
          Comment
          • CWD
            SBR Hall of Famer
            • 01-22-12
            • 7665

            #6
            these guys burn bright for a minute at least

            Comment
            • JMobile
              SBR Posting Legend
              • 08-21-10
              • 19074

              #7
              Too early for this. He might lose control like Chapman.
              Comment
              • slambam
                SBR MVP
                • 02-07-10
                • 1653

                #8
                Pass, they always make these a Asians sound like the best players in the world. It rarely turns out, So Taguchi being an exception.
                Comment
                • lolz_69
                  SBR Wise Guy
                  • 07-03-16
                  • 664

                  #9
                  Comment
                  • GUMMO77
                    SBR Hall of Famer
                    • 08-23-10
                    • 9294

                    #10
                    Breathtakingly sexy.
                    Comment
                    • Sledge187
                      SBR MVP
                      • 04-25-08
                      • 3722

                      #11
                      My wife is Asian....I will talk to her about this guy.
                      Comment
                      • irish1
                        SBR MVP
                        • 12-25-12
                        • 4837

                        #12
                        1997 28 NYY AL 5 4 .556 7.09 13 9 0 0 0 0 53.1 69 47 42 15 20 0 56 1 3 4 246 64 5.85 1.669 11.6 2.5 3.4 9.5 2.80
                        1998 29 NYY AL 13 9 .591 4.06 29 28 0 2 1 0 173.0 148 79 78 27 76 1 126 9 1 6 732 109 5.19 1.295 7.7 1.4 4.0 6.6 1.66
                        1999 30 NYY AL 11 7 .611 4.84 32 27 2 2 1 0 169.1 180 98 91 26 46 0 133 6 0 7 733 97 4.48 1.335 9.6 1.4 2.4 7.1 2.89
                        2000 31 MON NL 2 5 .286 7.24 11 11 0 0 0 0 54.2 77 45 44 9 14 0 42 1 2 5 247 67 4.56 1.665 12.7 1.5 2.3 6.9 3.00
                        2001 32 MON NL 0 2 .000 4.86 3 3 0 0 0 0 16.2 22 9 9 3 3 0 18 0 0 0 74 93 3.77 1.500 11.9 1.6 1.6 9.7 6.00
                        2002 33 TEX AL 3 8 .273 5.74 38 2 26 0 0 16 47.0 51 30 30 11 16 2 30 1 0 3 204 83 5.81 1.426 9.8 2.1 3.1 5.7 1.88
                        6 Yrs 34 35 .493 5.15 126 80 28 4 2 16 514.0 547 308 294 91 175 3 405 18 6 25 2236
                        Comment
                        • irish1
                          SBR MVP
                          • 12-25-12
                          • 4837

                          #13
                          Do you know who stats these are????
                          Comment
                          • triplecrown333
                            SBR MVP
                            • 07-13-14
                            • 1524

                            #14
                            irabu or something , pudgy fcuk
                            Comment
                            • irish1
                              SBR MVP
                              • 12-25-12
                              • 4837

                              #15
                              Free agent market is not very good for 2017. Bautista is 36 and injury prone, whoever throws made cash at him is nuts. Even Encarnacion is 34, a five year deal for him is donation for the last two years unless he is roided up. Unfortuntely for the Mets Cespedes is the best player in the free agent market. Mark Trumbo is the 2nd best and then Justin Turner. Free agent starters blow but Kensly Jansen and Aroldis Chapman are just waiting for those made cash offers. Trading is the way to acquire good players this off season. Tampa bay has said they will listen to offers for Longooria and Archer, White Sox Chris Sale. Houston has a ton of hitting and is looking for pitching. San Diego is ready to deal! Trading is definitely the way to go this year.
                              Comment
                              • irish1
                                SBR MVP
                                • 12-25-12
                                • 4837

                                #16
                                Originally posted by triplecrown333
                                irabu or something , pudgy fcuk
                                we have a winner Arabu. Remember him, he threw 98 mph and didn't amount to much thats why the Yanks dumped him. So, I'm not sold on Asian players who play against minor league competition. A handful of them become good major league players but most don't.
                                Comment
                                • Da Manster!
                                  SBR Posting Legend
                                  • 07-13-07
                                  • 17720

                                  #17
                                  yes, that is Hideki Irabu whom George Steinbrenner referred to as a "fat toad"...the only three Japanese players to have decent careers in MLB are Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro Suzuki...flops were Matasuzaka and Irabu...jury is still out on Darvish, Tanaka and Uehara...
                                  Comment
                                  • irish1
                                    SBR MVP
                                    • 12-25-12
                                    • 4837

                                    #18
                                    Darvish is damn good, if he could only stay healthy. His stats are real good!
                                    Comment
                                    • packerd_00
                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                      • 05-22-13
                                      • 17803

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by Da Manster!
                                      yes, that is Hideki Irabu whom George Steinbrenner referred to as a "fat toad"...the only three Japanese players to have decent careers in MLB are Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro Suzuki...flops were Matasuzaka and Irabu...jury is still out on Darvish, Tanaka and Uehara...
                                      Fair play to Nomo he stuck around for 12 years.
                                      Last edited by packerd_00; 11-15-16, 08:10 PM.
                                      Comment
                                      • irish1
                                        SBR MVP
                                        • 12-25-12
                                        • 4837

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by Da Manster!
                                        yes, that is Hideki Irabu whom George Steinbrenner referred to as a "fat toad"...the only three Japanese players to have decent careers in MLB are Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro Suzuki...flops were Matasuzaka and Irabu...jury is still out on Darvish, Tanaka and Uehara...
                                        Tanaka and Darvich are real good. Uehara had a fair career in MLB but he is 41 years old. So, if Uehara came over at a younger age he would have been a very good pitcher.
                                        Comment
                                        • Dirty Sanchez
                                          SBR Posting Legend
                                          • 03-01-10
                                          • 16031

                                          #21
                                          I just keep thinking about Hideki Irabu when the Yankees signed him...the Japanese "Nolan Ryan" they said
                                          Comment
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