Shohei Otani signs with Angels

[Spanky99]

That's interesting. From interviews I've read/heard, I could buy that relationship being with Arden Zwelling from Sportsnet. He's flew over there several times and hung out with Otani, from what I understand. If he gets us Otani, I think he could articles countless articles about the importance of RBIs and he would get a forever pass from me.

 

lol... you can't be seriously thinking Arden Zwelling has any type of pull, you're trolling right?

[Angrioter]

I think I read somewhere that Otani's favorite player is Darvish. If true, maybe we can get him if we also sign Darvish

 

Otani + Kawa

 

Cmon Shakins

[xposbrad]

Money clearly isn't an issue for him since he could have waited a bit to come over and gotten paid, but wants to come now. I don't know what the Jays could offer from a situation standpoint that every other team can't, so it will really come down to his preference. Maybe selling Otani on the high performance department and things like that will help. Who knows. I guess there is a 1/30 chance, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

Probably less. It's going to come down to the usual teams that want to win. Jays will end up overpaying a guy like Bruce then get some other fillers/projects.

[glory]

The last two years have been good for baseball...you also have to understand that when Manfred took over ratings were down to half of post strike ratings (a third of pre-strike) and everything was trending down. There is a nice upward swing right now and they have to continue it with some solid Youth outreach.

 

I've never understood why baseball doesn't promote personalities better...then again whenever players show much personality there is this traditionalist backlash. Maybe this years Astros will change that.

 

Yeah that’s why I don’t mind the juiced ball. Home runs and high scoring games are exciting. I’d rather baseball be relevant and popular again, especially to kids deciding which sport to play in high school and college.

 

The Bautista bat flip might be iconic in many ways because it may have started the backlash toward traditional old school thinking and embracing more celebration and “swag”. That’s what young people will gravitate to, and we saw a lot of that in this post season.

[jimedmonds]

what are his SP and DH comparables? Even if he is average at both, i.e. #4 starter with a Sean Casey bat, that's still like 4 WAR at season

[Krylian]

Well, we have a FO that would likely buy in to letting Otani pitch and hit, plus he can't really be worse than Morales anyway so seems like a decent fit here.

 

I think we have a FO that's more interested in value, low profile signings, and creating the illusion of competitive baseball than actually doing anything exciting. But maybe that's just me.

[Abomination]

I think we have a FO that's more interested in value, low profile signings, and creating the illusion of competitive baseball than actually doing anything exciting. But maybe that's just me.

 

I don't think that's true. We made a very good offer to Edwin to keep him, we took on full contracts to get guys like Liriano, and let's not discuss Morales. The team is simply in a transition period, so long term deals probably don't make a lot of sense atm. Shorter term deals often involve value type signings.

[Boxcar]

I don't think that's true. We made a very good offer to Edwin to keep him, we took on full contracts to get guys like Liriano, and let's not discuss Morales. The team is simply in a transition period, so long term deals probably don't make a lot of sense atm. Shorter term deals often involve value type signings.

 

We all knew this time was coming so I don't get why anyone would hate Shatkins for our current predicament. This was the price for two ALCS appearances.

 

I think we have a FO that's more interested in value, low profile signings, and creating the illusion of competitive baseball than actually doing anything exciting. But maybe that's just me.

 

your dumn

[bendera3]

I could see Shatkins going hard after Otani. Pitcher, decent hitter, 5th outfielder.

[glory]

I think we have a FO that's more interested in value, low profile signings, and creating the illusion of competitive baseball than actually doing anything exciting. But maybe that's just me.

 

The front office inherited a miniscule window to compete (basically one season) and luckily realized it rather than doubling down. Otani is a different animal entirely because he’s young and a long term piece that fits regardless of team direction. If they miss out on him it won’t be due to lack of trying.

[xposbrad]

The front office inherited a miniscule window to compete (basically one season) and luckily realized it rather than doubling down. Otani is a different animal entirely because he’s young and a long term piece that fits regardless of team direction. If they miss out on him it won’t be due to lack of trying.

 

Except, they are still trying to stretch that window. Look at some of the starters, and the fact they really didn't go full out sell mode at the deadline or before. I think this club will always be half in/half out, just trying to squeak by to sell tickets but never able to really compete since they won't do a full out rebuild. FO basically said they expect to field a competitive team next year, they might, but it won't be a team that can take the division unless they max payroll to say about 200m, just too many holes still and some prospects not quite ready.

[P2F]

Except, they are still trying to stretch that window. Look at some of the starters, and the fact they really didn't go full out sell mode at the deadline or before. I think this club will always be half in/half out, just trying to squeak by to sell tickets but never able to really compete since they won't do a full out rebuild. FO basically said they expect to field a competitive team next year, they might, but it won't be a team that can take the division unless they max payroll to say about 200m, just too many holes still and some prospects not quite ready.

 

But the FO are rebuilding the Jays. It might just appear that they are not.

 

They already have a top 10 farm since Shatkins took over, which should begin to bear fruit this season. The idea is to keep and develop their prospects for more sustainability, as opposed to going all-in at the first opportunity and subsequently mortgaging the future. There is currently talent at every level of the minor leagues for the first time in a long time.

[Krylian]

The front office inherited a miniscule window to compete (basically one season) and luckily realized it rather than doubling down. Otani is a different animal entirely because he’s young and a long term piece that fits regardless of team direction. If they miss out on him it won’t be due to lack of trying.

 

I guess we'll find out.

 

Nothing would make me happier than going balls deep to add young talent back to the organization.

[Slade]

Except, they are still trying to stretch that window. Look at some of the starters, and the fact they really didn't go full out sell mode at the deadline or before. I think this club will always be half in/half out, just trying to squeak by to sell tickets but never able to really compete since they won't do a full out rebuild. FO basically said they expect to field a competitive team next year, they might, but it won't be a team that can take the division unless they max payroll to say about 200m, just too many holes still and some prospects not quite ready.

 

I'm perfectly happy with what the front office is doing. They are keeping the MLB team interesting and signing prospects. Going full sell mode and tanking doesn't mean you are going to get better, we've seen top prospect after top prospect fail.

 

All you have to do is make a playoff spot and anything can happen. I didn't think the Yankees had any shot this year with their Rotation they still took Houston to 7 games in the ALCS.

[John_Havok]

I could see Shatkins going hard after Otani. Pitcher, decent hitter, 5th outfielder.

 

The thing with Otani is that he will get to pick where he plays since money isn't really going to be prohibitive for any team, since he falls under the July 2 signing cap. Whoever has money left can take their best shot but realistically he will pick whatever team offers him the chance to do what he wants to do as a player.

[glory]

Except, they are still trying to stretch that window. Look at some of the starters, and the fact they really didn't go full out sell mode at the deadline or before. I think this club will always be half in/half out, just trying to squeak by to sell tickets but never able to really compete since they won't do a full out rebuild. FO basically said they expect to field a competitive team next year, they might, but it won't be a team that can take the division unless they max payroll to say about 200m, just too many holes still and some prospects not quite ready.

 

They couldn’t rebuild after 2015 and 2016 for obvious reasons, and ownership probably doesn’t want to rebuild after rejuvenating the fanbase and increasing ratings/attendance/revenue. What they have done is rebuild while trying to field a competent team. Bringing Estrada back for one year instead of trading him for pennies on the dollar was actually a smart decision, he could have more value next summer or he could help the team get a wild card spot. Smith was traded at peak value, and Liriano actually netted a potential big leaguer which is more than they should have gotten for him. The front office hasn’t been perfect but they’ve blended rebuilding and trying to compete pretty well. They can change direction and rebuild pretty easily if they wanted to.

 

Trading Donaldson would signify a direction change and while that would make sense it’s probably an ownership call.

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

Snowflakes,

 

He's not signing with the Jays.

 

And it's "Ohtani".

[Sammy225]

In Before Otani goes to a different team and the casuals come out in heaves say how the jays are cheap for not going after him not even knowing how the posting process works.

[Captain Adama]

In Before Otani goes to a different team and the casuals come out in heaves say how the jays are cheap for not going after him not even knowing how the posting process works.

 

Yup, and this coming after Shapiro says they're probably not gonna land OhtanI. People are building themselves up for disappointment.

[Jonn]

Hopefully they do everything physically possible to lure him here. Obviously my expectations for The Blue Jays chances of signing him are slim to none.

[bendera3]

The thing with Otani is that he will get to pick where he plays since money isn't really going to be prohibitive for any team, since he falls under the July 2 signing cap. Whoever has money left can take their best shot but realistically he will pick whatever team offers him the chance to do what he wants to do as a player.

 

That's why I suggested allowing him to play the field too. Perhaps have a 6 starting pitchers (Otani) being one but skipping him occasionally and allowing him to hit and play the field a few times a week. The media is reporting that he wants to hit and is talking about making him a DH but I haven't read one report about a team letting him play the field and pitch. Perhaps that's something we could offer him to set us apart.

[John_Havok]

That's why I suggested allowing him to play the field too. Perhaps have a 6 starting pitchers (Otani) being one but skipping him occasionally and allowing him to hit and play the field a few times a week. The media is reporting that he wants to hit and is talking about making him a DH but I haven't read one report about a team letting him play the field and pitch. Perhaps that's something we could offer him to set us apart.

 

I'm sure there's probably multiple teams that are trying to figure out what they'd have to do to offer him something like that. The problem becomes.... what happens if one of the sides of the ball doesn't work out and he still wants to do both...

 

Does he want absolute assurance that he will be able to pitch and hit for the entire duration of his contract? Or does he only want assurance that he will be given that chance... and if it doesn't work out then he will focus on one or the other? And if that's the case, how do they determine how long him doing both would be considered a fair chance? Spring training ? Half a season? 2 Seasons?

 

Without knowing exactly what his demands are, it's hard to speculate on what any team is prepared to offer him

[burlingtonbandit]

I can't see him playing the OF in addition to pitching (especially with the turf if by miracle he came here). I doubt a player's legs could handle the amount of stress pitching and playing the OF takes (even twice a week) over the course of a season.

 

I think that's why him going to the AL and DHing is more realistic.

[glory]

Yeah I don't think there's any way a team plays him in the outfield. Starting will take a toll on his arm, do you really want him making throws in the outfield on his non-pitching days?

[bendera3]

Yeah I don't think there's any way a team plays him in the outfield. Starting will take a toll on his arm, do you really want him making throws in the outfield on his non-pitching days?

 

I'd have no problem with it. What's the difference between him doing that and him throwing side sessions? I'm not saying to do it but if that's what it takes to get a leg up on him I have no problem with him doing it. He did it in Japan.

[John_Havok]

Relevant from fangraphs:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/where-ohtani-would-make-the-most-impact/

[Abomination]

I'd have no problem with it. What's the difference between him doing that and him throwing side sessions?

 

In one you warm the arm slower, one you have to make a throw at 100% while cold. For a pitcher who throws a lot, it takes some time to loosen up the arm. It's less of a problem for a normal outfielder.

[Brownie19]

In one you warm the arm slower, one you have to make a throw at 100% while cold. For a pitcher who throws a lot, it takes some time to loosen up the arm. It's less of a problem for a normal outfielder.

 

This. Rushed throws and/or throws on the run/off-balance are incredibly stressful on the arm. It's a really bad idea.

[glory]

http://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/cant-imagine-a-better-fit-blue-jays-gm-trying-to-acquire-shohei-otani/amp

 

Atkins slobbering all over Otani in that article. As mentioned, if/when he signs elsewhere it won’t be due to lack of trying. This man fits the Jays perfectly and the front office knows it.

[Boxcar]

Wow, Otani is a cutie pie

 

My god I love how when Atkins talks, he actually says stuff.