SHOhei Ohtani will play in the MLB in 2018.
Timing of this could not be more perfect for the NY Yankees !!
Why? Because not only is Ohtani a two-way star who some scouts call “the Babe Ruth of Japan”, but also because he is under the 25 years-old threshold that would make him an unrestricted free-agent, and therefore mlb teams can only offer him a minor league contract plus whatever that team has in their international bonus pool money. This at a time when the Yankees once again are saying they intend to get below the Luxury Tax.
You might recall after the 2013 season the Yankees said they would get below the $189M LuxTax (I was in favor of them doing so) but instead went on a nearly $1/2 Billion shopping spree.
Why was I in favor of the Yankees getting under the cap? Because they had an opportunity to hit the reset button as opposed to going into an insane 50% tax bracket as a repeat offender. When FA’s like Max Scherzer became available after the 2014 season, the high price tag plus 50% tax on top became too steep of a price, even for the Yankees. Even as recently as the trade deadline this year, there was no way the Yankees could pick up the salary + 50% for Justin Verlander who ended up helping the Astros knock out the Yankees in the ALCS and win their first WS.
Now with ARod, CC, Holliday & Pineda coming off the books, the Yankees have another real opportunity to finally get under the $197 Million threshold this winter.
The Yankees have $3.5 Million in international bonus pool money, second only in the league to Texas who has slightly more at $3.535 Million.
The 23 year-old Ohtani was 42-15, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, pitching for the Nippon Ham Fighters in 5 seasons , and also hit .286 with 48 HRs & 166 RBIs over 403 games. The Fighters will receive $20M for posting Ohtani.
Every MLB team wants the 6’4″, 214 lb. Ohtani who can throw 100 mph (RHP) and hit for power (LHB), especially with a team-friendly contract, but where will he end up ? Here is why many, including myself, feel Ohtani is destined for the Yankees :
First-off retired Yankee Hideki Matsui is preparing to recruit Ohtani on behalf of the Yankees. Matsui is a legend in Japan. Also consider …
** Masahiro Tanaka would also help recruit
**The allure of N.Y. and the Pinstripes
**The endorsement money in NY would he huge
** The opportunity to DH & shoot for the short porch in RF (he’s a lefty batter)
** The $3.5M bonus pool money the Yanks can offer
The Yankees can .. improve their starting rotation, batting line-up, and finally get under the luxury tax threshold allowing themselves to be buyers for 2019 free-agents .. all at the same time.
Let’s just say .. it’s the perfect time for “SHO’ TIME ”
As always,
GO NYY !!
