Report: Rangers can offer biggest bonus to Otani
Under the hard cap stipulated in the new collective bargaining agreement regarding the acquisition of international prospects, no team will have more money available than the Texas Rangers to sign two-way Japanese star Shohei Otani this winter, according to MLB figures obtained by The Associated Press.
The Rangers have only spent about 26 percent of the $4.75-million bonus pool allotted to them to spend on international amateurs for the current signing period, and can therefore offer Otani - who, per the new CBA, must sign a minor-league contract - a maximum signing bonus of $3,535,000. Only five other teams can offer the vaunted pitcher and outfielder a seven-figure bonus, and a dozen teams can offer him a maximum of $300,000 - a penalty for exceeding their bonus pools in previous international signing periods.
| Team | Max bonus |
|---|---|
| Rangers | $3,535,000 |
| Yankees | $3,250,000 |
| Twins | $3,245,000 |
| Pirates | $2,266,750 |
| Marlins | $1,740,000 |
| Mariners | $1,570,500 |
| Phillies | $900,000 |
| Brewers | $765,000 |
| D-Backs | $731,250 |
| Orioles | $660,000 |
| Red Sox | $462,000 |
| Rays | $440,500" |
Though Otani can't sign with an MLB club until a new posting system is ratified, MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball have reportedly agreed to the outlines of a deal that will keep the old system - which allows any MLB team willing to pay the fee set by his Japanese club, capped at $20 million, to sign him - in place this winter.
Otani, who earlier this week picked CAA to represent him as he prepares to make the jump stateside, would not be subject to international bonus pool restrictions were he to come over after turning 25.
In 2017, in his fifth season with the Nippon Ham Fighters, Otani hit .332/.403/.540 with eight home runs and 16 doubles in 65 games. An ankle injury kept him off the mound for most of the campaign, though, limiting him to just five starts, over which he managed a 3.20 ERA and 27.6 percent strikeout rate in 25 1/3 innings.