Japanese prospect to gauge teams’ interest in writing
The Giants, A’s and all other Major League Baseball teams were given homework this weekend by Shohei Ohtani.
Nez Balelo, the agent for the pitcher/outfielder, asked for written explanations in English and Japanese on how Ohtani would fit into each organization intending to bid and what makes the team attractive.
The memo from the co-head of CAA Baseball was distributed to all 30 teams by the commissioner’s office late Friday.
Balelo’s memo asks for a team to evaluate Ohtani’s talent as a pitcher and as a hitter; to explain its player development, medical training and player-performance philosophies and facilities; to describe its minor-league and spring training facilities; to detail resources for Ohtani’s cultural assimilation into the team’s city; to demonstrate a vision for how Ohtani could integrate into the team’s organization; and to tell Ohtani why the team is a desirable place to play. Clubs were told not to include any financial terms of a possible contract.
The Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League are expected to set the posting price at the $20 million maximum, and any big-league team meeting that price would have 21 days to negotiate a deal. The money is paid only if the side agree to a contract.
Because of restrictions in MLB’s new labor contract, any agreement must be for a minorleague contract subject to remaining amounts in each team’s 2017-18 international signingbonus pool. Texas has the most available at $3,535,000, followed by the Yankees ($3.5 million), Minnesota ($3.07 million) and Pittsburgh ($2,266,750).
Other teams viewed as possibilities include Seattle ($1,557,500) and the Dodgers, who — like the Giants and A’s — have $300,000 available.