[Mr KLC]

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.

http://nypost.com/2016/11/09/meet-ba...-may-get-300m/

[lolz_69]

eh, he's not that attractive

[jjgold]

majors in USA tougher

Not many Asian Pitchers are real studs coming here

[kidcudi92]

thats my 6th cousin

[DOM-Ganador]

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.

[CWD]

these guys burn bright for a minute at least

[JMobile]

Too early for this. He might lose control like Chapman.

[slambam]

Pass, they always make these a Asians sound like the best players in the world. It rarely turns out, So Taguchi being an exception.

[lolz_69]

[GUMMO77]

Breathtakingly sexy.

[Sledge187]

My wife is Asian....I will talk to her about this guy.

[irish1]

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	ERA+	FIP	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9	SO/W	Awards
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

[irish1]

Do you know who stats these are????

[triplecrown333]

irabu or something , pudgy fcuk

[irish1]

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.

[irish1]

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.

[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...

[irish1]

Darvish is damn good, if he could only stay healthy. His stats are real good!

[packerd_00]

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.

[irish1]

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.

[Dirty Sanchez]

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