Shohei Ohtani Signs with the Angels

[minnesotacubsfan]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

[Cubswin11]

Ohtani will be posted on Friday.

 

Scott Boras on Ohtani (it's the Athletic, but it's free): https://theathletic.com/168552/2017/11/28/rosenthal-scott-boras-dismayed-over-new-system-that-allows-the-shohei-ohtani-agreement/

So it’s up to 30 Days from Friday for him to decide, right? Which would put New Years as the deadline?

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

Uh....

[SpongeWorthy]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

Uh....

 

i imagine mcf to be lauren graham's kid from the last few episodes of curb now

[David]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

man this guy is always saying some off the wall horsefeathers lmao

[javy knows my name]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

Literally nothing you have said in the last 5 years has made any sense.

[David]

I get that he's left a ton on the table by coming over early, but that's still a pretty significant drop to go from what the Yankees can offer vs. the Cubs. I think it's safe to say that if he picks the Cubs then the guy really doesn't care much (relatively) about the money right now. Yeah, it's "only" passing on $3 million+...but it's to settle on $300k. Yowza.

 

I mean, it's not like it's an AAV...just a signing bonus.

[Sammy Sofa]

I get that he's left a ton on the table by coming over early, but that's still a pretty significant drop to go from what the Yankees can offer vs. the Cubs. I think it's safe to say that if he picks the Cubs then the guy really doesn't care much (relatively) about the money right now. Yeah, it's "only" passing on $3 million+...but it's to settle on $300k. Yowza.

 

I mean, it's not like it's an AAV...just a signing bonus.

 

Yeah, that's true.

 

Dammit, I had already resigned myself to accepting the dumb Yankees getting him. STUPID HOPE.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ohtani will be posted on Friday.

 

Scott Boras on Ohtani (it's the Athletic, but it's free): https://theathletic.com/168552/2017/11/28/rosenthal-scott-boras-dismayed-over-new-system-that-allows-the-shohei-ohtani-agreement/

So it’s up to 30 Days from Friday for him to decide, right? Which would put New Years as the deadline?

 

From a legal perspective, yes, but considering there isn't a need to pit teams against each other in negotiation, I would expect it to be faster than that. If I had to guess, he's getting a written report from teams to decide the finalists he wants to talk to in person, then he'll do that and take a few days and make a decision. If he's getting posted 12/1, then it's conceivably possible he could sign before the winter meetings.

[davell]

Isn't it 21 days now anyway?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

maybe i'm off base on this, but i'm especially surprised by the slow offseasons so far because really the only thing teams can do to improve their position with Ohtani between now and his decision is to improve the talent level of their team. a team like the Giants, for instance, who might have a shot because of their market size and large Asian population, but might be dismissed by Ohtani because of their record last year, could benefit by being more aggressive on the Stanton front (who they're pursuing anyway). i get that this is very flawed example because Stanton's NTC is a big factor in this particular instance. but it just seems like more teams should be aggressive early this year, given the opportunity to attract a franchise player in a situation where money isn't really a differentiating factor.

 

the angels are another team that comes to mind. they were a few games out of the playoffs last year. add some talent early, and maybe the idea of playing with Mike Trout in Los Angeles, with DH on option for Ohtani, suddenly becomes more appealing.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

maybe i'm off base on this, but i'm especially surprised by the slow offseasons so far because really the only thing teams can do to improve their position with Ohtani between now and his decision is to improve the talent level of their team. a team like the Giants, for instance, who might have a shot because of their market size and large Asian population, but might be dismissed by Ohtani because of their record last year, could benefit by being more aggressive on the Stanton front (who they're pursuing anyway). i get that this is very flawed example because Stanton's NTC is a big factor in this particular instance. but it just seems like more teams should be aggressive early this year, given the opportunity to attract a franchise player in a situation where money isn't really a differentiating factor.

 

the angels are another team that comes to mind. they were a few games out of the playoffs last year. add some talent early, and maybe the idea of playing with Mike Trout in Los Angeles, with DH on option for Ohtani, suddenly becomes more appealing.

 

Stanton/Giants is basically the only scenario I can see where a team could materially improve their chances of getting Otani by moving more decisively, and even that feels like a bit of a stretch. The teams in closest competition for him are the ones that already look to be really good, which is what you expect when money isn't a factor.

 

I think the new luxury tax combined with a weak FA class is the biggest reason behind the stagnation. You've got several of the highest payroll teams not interested in spending or even looking to cut payroll to get under in advance of the 2018 class. Any team that could spend on Darvish or Arrieta will try their hand with Otani first(since most teams aren't focusing that much effort on getting 2 SP), and teams outside that pool aren't going to sprint to sign mid-market guys in case the biggest FAs see their market suppressed to the point they can jump in.

[David]

As expected, Theo really wants this dude badly:

 

MLB sources have confirmed to me that the Cubs have spent significant time and money in their pursuit of Ohtani. The club has sent multiple scouts to Japan for weeks at a time and they have watched him pitch and play the outfield and they believe he can indeed do both on the north side of Chicago.

 

A rival NL executive who has scouted Ohtani believes the Cubs will be on the short list of teams that have a realistic chance of signing him:

 

“Theo has been fascinated by this kid for a long time," the executive said. "He and Jed have been strategizing on how to land him in Chicago. They have the support system needed to make this work. They landed Daisuke Matsuzaka when he was in Boston and they have a good relationship with Ohtani’s agent (Nez Balelo) at CAA.

 

"They are definitely one of the teams on his short list. But will he end up in the National League? That’s the big challenge.”

 

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/shohei-ohtani-theo-epsteins-white-whale-japan-jed-hoyer-mlb

 

Oh, LOL Kaplan wrote this...have the Marlins hired Jim Hendry yet?

[UMFan83]

As expected, Theo really wants this dude badly:

 

MLB sources have confirmed to me that the Cubs have spent significant time and money in their pursuit of Ohtani. The club has sent multiple scouts to Japan for weeks at a time and they have watched him pitch and play the outfield and they believe he can indeed do both on the north side of Chicago.

 

A rival NL executive who has scouted Ohtani believes the Cubs will be on the short list of teams that have a realistic chance of signing him:

 

“Theo has been fascinated by this kid for a long time," the executive said. "He and Jed have been strategizing on how to land him in Chicago. They have the support system needed to make this work. They landed Daisuke Matsuzaka when he was in Boston and they have a good relationship with Ohtani’s agent (Nez Balelo) at CAA.

 

"They are definitely one of the teams on his short list. But will he end up in the National League? That’s the big challenge.”

 

http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/shohei-ohtani-theo-epsteins-white-whale-japan-jed-hoyer-mlb

 

Oh, LOL Kaplan wrote this...have the Marlins hired Jim Hendry yet?

 

I know, I noticed that afterwards

[minnesotacubsfan]

Man, if this kid actually turns out to be some kind of freak who really doesn't care about money at all, I won't know what to believe going forward.

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

man this guy is always saying some off the wall horsefeathers lmao

 

Im drunk on the love of knowing Garrison Keillor is off the air

[davell]

 

Lmao

[Bobson Dugnutt]

i love how this is set up in a way that leads all thirty teams to believe they have a chance. realistically, it's probably closer to 5. but i sure do enjoy hearing about why the reds and marlins are the best fit for this potentially generational talent.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

maybe i'm off base on this, but i'm especially surprised by the slow offseasons so far because really the only thing teams can do to improve their position with Ohtani between now and his decision is to improve the talent level of their team. a team like the Giants, for instance, who might have a shot because of their market size and large Asian population, but might be dismissed by Ohtani because of their record last year, could benefit by being more aggressive on the Stanton front (who they're pursuing anyway). i get that this is very flawed example because Stanton's NTC is a big factor in this particular instance. but it just seems like more teams should be aggressive early this year, given the opportunity to attract a franchise player in a situation where money isn't really a differentiating factor.

 

the angels are another team that comes to mind. they were a few games out of the playoffs last year. add some talent early, and maybe the idea of playing with Mike Trout in Los Angeles, with DH on option for Ohtani, suddenly becomes more appealing.

 

Stanton/Giants is basically the only scenario I can see where a team could materially improve their chances of getting Otani by moving more decisively, and even that feels like a bit of a stretch. The teams in closest competition for him are the ones that already look to be really good, which is what you expect when money isn't a factor.

 

I think the new luxury tax combined with a weak FA class is the biggest reason behind the stagnation. You've got several of the highest payroll teams not interested in spending or even looking to cut payroll to get under in advance of the 2018 class. Any team that could spend on Darvish or Arrieta will try their hand with Otani first(since most teams aren't focusing that much effort on getting 2 SP), and teams outside that pool aren't going to sprint to sign mid-market guys in case the biggest FAs see their market suppressed to the point they can jump in.

 

this makes sense. i had not considered the bolded.

[Cubswin11]

It's just nice knowing we have Theo/smart FO and we are going to get the best effort and probably most well prepared pitch, when in the past our presentation would probably have gone as well as Roger Sterling interacting with the Japanese businessmen. Edited November 29, 2017 by Cubswin11

[Cubswin11]

Question on compensation.... would offering to pay for his housing, transportation, etc. in Chicago and Arizona and flights/trips to and from Japan for him, his friends and family count monetarily towards his bonus? Or could that be stuff in the grey areas that could at least help persuade him?

[Bertz]

Question on compensation.... would offering to pay for his housing, transportation, etc. in Chicago and maybe even Arizona and flights/trips to/from Japan for him, his friends and family count monetarily towards his bonus? Or could that be stuff in the grey areas that could at least help persuade him?

 

Sounds like that is not allowed. Standard minor league contract plus however much bonus you can offer. They could probably hire his pick of translator or something but thats about it.

[Regular Show]

It's just nice knowing we have Theo/smart FO and we are going to get the best effort and probably most well prepared pitch, when in the past our presentation would probably have gone as well as Roger Sterling interacting with the Japanese businessmen.

 

Good one lol.

 

[Sammy Sofa]

 

 

Where in the horsefeathers have you been? Our president literally insults every person he meets. If youre thinking or expecting anything at all you are doing it wrong

 

man this guy is always saying some off the wall horsefeathers lmao

 

Im drunk on the love of knowing Garrison Keillor is off the air

 

[CubsWin]

I get that he's left a ton on the table by coming over early, but that's still a pretty significant drop to go from what the Yankees can offer vs. the Cubs. I think it's safe to say that if he picks the Cubs then the guy really doesn't care much (relatively) about the money right now. Yeah, it's "only" passing on $3 million+...but it's to settle on $300k. Yowza.

 

I mean, it's not like it's an AAV...just a signing bonus.

 

Yeah, that's true.

 

Dammit, I had already resigned myself to accepting the dumb Yankees getting him. STUPID HOPE.

I think it's safe to give up that hope. Ohtani definitely wants to hit, but by "hit" I think he means DH. He hasn't played the OF in 3 years. When he was 19 (in 2014), he played 8 games in the outfield. He played 54 games there the year before.

 

I guess Theo wants his arm in the rotation bad enough that he'll commit to allowing Ohtani to start a few games a week in left/right field, but the question is does Ohtani feel comfortable playing defense out there. Does he even want to?

 

All things considered, for me, it's an AL team. Now if Ohtani prefers to play in the outfield, that brings the Cubs back into it with the Dodgers likely being ahead of them. Dammit, I guess that means there's still a sliver of hope.

 

Well, I tried...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

they put Schwarber in the OF. they’ll put anyone out there