Japanese star Otani plans to move to MLB for the 2018 season

Highly touted Japanese pitcher-outfielder Shohei Otani announced on Saturday he wants to move to Major League Baseball next season.

“The other day I met with team officials and stated my intentions,” Otani told a news conference. “My request was met with warm words of support so I hope to do my best in America from next year on.”

Otani’s Japanese club, the Nippon Ham Fighters, said on Friday they will allow Otani to use the posting system this off-season, clearing the way for him to sign with a major league team next season.

Otani, 23, is the reigning Pacific League MVP and was 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA this year. Despite thigh and ankle injuries, he batted .332 in 65 games with 16 doubles, eight homers and 31 RBIs. He had ankle surgery last month.

He has a 42-15 record with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings over five seasons, and a .286 batting average with 48 homers and 166 RBIs.

Because Otani has less than nine years of service time, Nippon Ham retains his rights and he must go through the posting system to leave.

If MLB, the MLB Players Association and Nippon Professional Baseball agree to a deal that would extend the expired posting agreement through this off-season, the team that Otani signs with would pay the Fighters US$20 million. Under MLB’s labour contract, his signing bonus is restricted and remaining pool money is limited to a high of $3,535,000.

Under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, the 23-year-old Otani can only agree to a minor-league contract that is subject to signing bonus pools.

If added to a big league roster, he would have a salary for about the minimum $545,000 next season and not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2020 at the earliest.

If he was to wait until he is 25 to enter MLB, there would be no restrictions and he likely would get a better deal. But Otani said he wanted to go now rather than wait.

“I am not yet a complete player yet, and I want to go to an environment where I can continue to get better,” said Otani.

“I felt the same way when I graduated from high school. And it is my strongest reason for wanting to go now.”