Shohei Ohtani Signs with the Angels

[David]

Guess we'll find out quickly if there's any truth to Ohtani wanting to play with Darvish. If there is, Yu will be a Cub in the next day or two.

 

Huh? I thought the report was that Ohtani DIDN'T want to play with Darvish

 

After the Yankee horsefeathers, I don't think we know a damn thing.

 

The Yankee horsefeathers would fit with that report, though. Because of Tanaka.

[David]

 

That is the quintessential Wittenmyer experience. Add no new information, say something accurate from the most pessimistic angle even if it's irrelevant.

 

Are any of the other finalists also penalty teams?

 

Dodgers, Giants, Padres, and should they miraculously get confirmed as a finalist, the Reds. https://www.baseballamerica.com/international/2017-18-international-bonus-pools/

 

Soooo that leaves me thinking the dumb ass media (Nightengale in particular) pegged the Mariners as favorites because they can offer more money, despite how irrelevant that obviously is, and not any actual sourced information.

[Clem Fandango]

i'm still not sure he's delusional enough to believe his best chance to hit in the long term is to be on an AL squad. it's probably his best chance to not hit at all.

 

Yeah when your DH competition in Seattle is Nelson Cruz, you won't get to hit often unless they want him to take AB's away from their position players. Unlike the NL when pitchers are required to hit, and they use pinch hitters all the time and the Cubs never shied away from using a pitcher to pinch hit if they can swing the bat decently enough.

[davell]

 

Huh? I thought the report was that Ohtani DIDN'T want to play with Darvish

 

After the Yankee horsefeathers, I don't think we know a damn thing.

 

The Yankee horsefeathers would fit with that report, though. Because of Tanaka.

 

Ah true lol. But still, nothing would surprise me with this stuff now.

[Cubswin11]

I’m getting irrationally excited about this. Obviously Otani in and of himself is a huge get but also, imo, getting him allows us to not have to trade any of the position players for a pitcher (which I really don’t want to have to do and if they are moved I would rather move one or two for Yellich or a impact bat like him).

[UMFan83]

I don’t think this was posted yet

 

[Clem Fandango]

I don’t think this was posted yet

 

 

Not sure how or if erections will win him over, but whatever works.

[Cubswin11]

I don’t think this was posted yet

 

Other teams have to be terrified of letting Theo get in that room to pitch

[David]

yeah but that's just kaplan being his usual blowhard self

[Gilby]

Lester said during their pitch to him, Theo and Jed showed him the 2016 projected lineup (before the 2015 season) with Heyward in it. I bet Harper's name will get brought up a time or two in the Ohtani sales pitch.

[davell]

 

We figured on this, I guess.

[ScrubMD]

I don’t think this was posted yet

 

 

Not sure how or if erections will win him over, but whatever works.

 

[davell]

And yeah, teams are certainly going to be wary, or downright scared of Theo. There's 5 West Coast teams, the Rangers with a very nice NPB success story, in Yu.....And the Cubs. Plenty of damn good franchises missed this cut. Including the Yankees, bitching about needing to be on the West Coast, or a small market. Of which the Cubs are neither.

 

It really is amazing how much the culture changed with Theo. He'll get his guy.

[d_money]

Can the Cubs make trades to gain additional IFA signing bonus money? $300K is so low.

[Cubswin11]

Can the Cubs make trades to gain additional IFA signing bonus money? $300K is so low.

They can, but can still only go up to $300K on any individual signing

[CaliforniaRaisin]

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We know the Marlins are one of the three. I wouldn't be shocked if the Orioles didn't respond either. Wonder what the third team is.

[davell]

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We know the Marlins are one of the three. I wouldn't be shocked if the Orioles didn't respond either. Wonder what the third team is.

 

 

Philly maybe, considering his comment about there and only wanting to visit?

[Cubswin11]

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We know the Marlins are one of the three. I wouldn't be shocked if the Orioles didn't respond either. Wonder what the third team is.

Maybe the Braves? With everything that has gone on there. Also spare me the “do the dance” thing, it was a horsefeathering questionnaire. If anything it was a good thought/introspective/review exercise for teams to evaluate where they were organizationally in areas other FAs probably feel are important too

[Bobson Dugnutt]

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We know the Marlins are one of the three. I wouldn't be shocked if the Orioles didn't respond either. Wonder what the third team is.

Maybe the Braves? With everything that has gone on there. Also spare me the “do the dance” thing, it was a horsefeathering questionnaire. If anything it was a good thought/introspective/review exercise for teams to evaluate where they were organizationally in areas other FAs probably feel are important too

 

 

yeah, the indignation of the fans/writers of some of these teams is hilarious. the cubs and rangers still being in the mix shows that he’s not 100% committed to the West Coast. Other teams had the opportunity to impress him. They just didn’t.

 

And any GM worth a damn should be prepared to answer those questions anyway.

[Brian]

If you are a president/GM and filling out a questionnaire about your team and organizational philosophies for the chance at, if nothing else a top prospect, for basically free is an inconvenience get a new job.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Oh yeah, Pete Abraham is salty AF there.

 

Ohtani is coming over to play for pennies on the dollar in a completely foreign country. He should be able to do whatever the horsefeathers he wants to make the best decision he can.

[Agony and Ivy]

Can the Cubs make trades to gain additional IFA signing bonus money? $300K is so low.

They can, but can still only go up to $300K on any individual signing

 

I have it on good authority that Theo has cleaned the horsefeathers up in the bitcoin boom. And, since those transactions can’t be tracked, Ohtani will be getting an under the table offer of about $45mm from the Cubs.

[Bear Cub]

I would cut a finger to be in on the presentation meeting between Theo, Jed and Ohtani!

[Tim]

I picture Theo and Jed having already gone through months of intense language training so they could make the presentation in Japanese.

[d_money]

Jed and Theo - please, no WWII references.