Manfred thinks teams will follow rules for Japanese star

23 with five professional seasons to 25 with six seasons. Because of SEATTlE

that, Otani would be subject this With Japanese star Shohei off-season to signing bonus pools Otani considering a jump to a that limit bonuses.

Major League Baseball team, MLB teams are prohibited from Commissioner Rob Manfred sidestepping the restrictions, said he believes it will be hard such as with an unannounced for teams to circumvent existing agreement for future seasons, contract rules in pursuit of the and would receive harsh punishment coveted two-way player. if caught by the commissioner’s

Otani’s situation was among office. Because of that, several issues, including Otani has economic incentive pace of play, expanded to wait two years rosters in September before leaving for MLB. and a selected site for a He would then be considered proposed new stadium a professional. in Oakland, that were “With respect to the addressed by Manfred speculation about what during an interview in clubs are going to do, in Seattle. today’s basic agreement

Manfred

Otani, a 23-year-old structure, there’s only so outfielder and right-handed much that you can do in an effort pitcher, could sign a far more lucrative to avoid the rules and I have an deal if he waited two years outstanding staff in New York,” to join a big league club. But he is Manfred said. “If you’re talking expected to leave Japan after this about doing something with a season, according to multiple 14-year-old kid in the Dominican Japanese media reports. Republic that nobody’s ever

“He’s a great player,” Manfred heard of, you might get past us. said. “We want to have the best Given the focus on Otani, not only players in the world playing in by our office, but by the clubs as Major League Baseball. I’m hopeful a group, I think that it’s very, very that at some point, when it’s unlikely that a club is going to be right for him and right for the able to avoid the rules and not be team that he’s under contract to, caught.” they make a decision to allow the Addressing the pace of play and player to come here and play. I length of games also is of primary think it would be a very exciting importance, Manfred said. The thing for Major League Baseball.” average time of game this season

Otani, the reigning Pacific is 3:09, according to Baseball Reference, League MVP, is in his fifth season up from 3:04 last season. with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Game times have climbed almost

As part of the collective bargaining annually from 2:49 in 2005. agreement MLB teams “To me, the biggest picture, and players agreed to in November, we should be focused on dead the dividing line for time in the game,” Manfred said. international amateurs and professionals “We should address those deadtime was changed from age issues and try to improve our pace of play without making changes that alter the fundamental competition on the field.”

Possible solutions include a pitch clock that he said has been used successfully in the minor leagues, limiting the number of mound visits and reducing the time between innings.

Roster expansion up to 40 players in September also ties into the length of the game, especially with increased pitching changes, but has other implications for the game, as well.

“The 40-man roster was a big topic in the last basic agreement negotiations,” Manfred said. “We actually thought we had an agreement with the union on a set of changes that I thought would be really good for the game, both in terms of making sure that in September we’re playing the game basically the same way we play it the rest of the year, but also in terms of pace of play.”

“We did have a tentative. It did not make its way into the final agreement,” he added. “I think that’s unfortunate.”

Manfred was pleased with the choice of a site near Laney College for a new stadium by the Oakland Athletics and hopes the project moves forward. Tampa Bay’s stadium situation also needs to be addressed, he said, before thoughts of possible expansion.

Because he was speaking in Seattle, Manfred was asked about neighbouring Portland, Ore., as a possibility for an expansion team.

“In terms of sequencing the issues, it’s important to get Oakland and Tampa resolved before we move ahead with expansion,” he said.