Is Japanese star MLB-bound?
Two-way player Shohei Ohtani hires a U.S. agency to deal with American teams.
It looks as if Shohei Ohtani is ready to come to the major leagues.
A two-way star in Japan who throws 100-mph fastballs and launches 500-foot home runs, Ohtani has chosen CAA Sports to represent him in the United States, according to multiple people familiar with the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity. Los Angeles-based Nez Balelo will be Ohtani’s lead agent.
Before Ohtani can move to the major leagues, new regulations governing the transfer of players from Japan to the United States will have to be agreed upon by Nippon Professional Baseball, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Assn. The most recent agreement expired last week.
“Once that is completed, he has every intention to come to the States this coming season,” a person familiar with the situation said.
The Dodgers have scouted Ohtani since he was in high school and are expected to heavily pursue him.
Ohtani could be costing himself hundreds of millions of dollars by moving to the major leagues this winter instead of waiting two more years.
As a player younger than 25, Ohtani will be treated as if he were an international amateur, meaning he would have to sign a standard minor league contract.
The largest bonus he could receive would be between $3 million and $4 million. Many teams, including the Dodgers, would be able to offer him a bonus of only $300,000 as a penalty for spending beyond their designated limits on international amateurs in previous signing periods.
By waiting two years, the Nippon-Ham Fighters star would be free of any financial restrictions and some major league executives estimate he could sign for upward of $200 million.
But Ohtani is said to be ambivalent about money. — Dylan Hernandez
The Dodgers exercised their option to retain Logan Forsythe, agreeing to pay $8.5 million to bring back their second baseman.
The move appears to lock in the Dodgers’ starting infield for next season: Cody Bellinger at first base; Forsythe at second; Corey Seager at shortstop and Justin Turner at third.
Forsythe, 30, batted .224 with six home runs this season, batting .190 against righthanders and .290 against lefthanders. He batted .297 with a .435 on-base percentage in the playoffs, displaying his usual strong defense.
The Dodgers targeted Forsythe last winter after they could not reach agreement with the Minnesota Twins on a trade for second baseman Brian Dozier.
Dozier batted .271 with 34 home runs for the Twins this season.
Forsythe batted .264 with 20 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, and the Dodgers gave up pitching prospect Jose De Leon to get him.
They installed him as their leadoff batter, but he suffered a broken toe in April and most often hit in the bottom half of the lineup after returning.
De Leon had three stints on the minor league disabled list this year. He made one appearance for the Rays, giving up three runs in 22⁄3 innings. — Bill Shaikin The Kansas City Royals trio of first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and outfielder Lorenzo Cain was among nine free agents who have received $17.4-million qualifying offers from their teams.
Chicago Cubs pitchers Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis also received the offers, as did Rays pitcher Alex Cobb, Colorado Rockies closer Greg Holland, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn and Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana.
Players have until Nov. 16 to accept. If they sign with new teams, their old clubs would get an extra draft pick as compensation — possibly a much lower selection than in the past under the rules in baseball’s new labor contract.
The Cardinals released right-hander Trevor Rosenthal, 27, who had elbow ligament-replacement surgery in the summer and could be sidelined all of next season. He was 3-4 with a 3.40 ERA and 11 saves this year, his sixth with the Cardinals.
Left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner’s $12-million option for 2018 was exercised by the San Francisco Giants, who are determined to keep a talented rotation intact as they look to bounce back from a last-place season. The Giants also exercised options on lefthander Matt Moore and third baseman Pablo Sandoval.
Former Dodgers players Steve Garvey and Tommy John, and former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly are among the 10 names on the ballot for a Hall of Fame election next month. All are eligible on the Modern Baseball Era ballot, which recognizes players whose biggest contributions came from 1970 to 1987.