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Posted on 12/08/2017 12:51:16 PM PST by nickcarraway
Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, his agent said on Friday.
In addition to the Angels, Ohtani had met with the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
"Shohei is humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations and sincerely thanks them for their professionalism," his agent, Nez Balelo, said in a statement. "In the end, he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals in Major League Baseball."
Ohtani was put up for bid last week by the Pacific League's Nippon-Ham Fighters for the maximum $20 million posting fee. The 23-year-old had until 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 22 to agree to a contract with an MLB team.
Ohtani was 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in five seasons as a pitcher with Nippon-Ham. He had a .286/.358/.500 line with 48 homers and 166 RBIs in 403 games during that span.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
The angels...where free agents go to fade away.
Going to the AL. WTH?
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Doesn’t make sense. If he’s such a good hitter besides being a good pitcher, why doesn’t he go to a National League team where he’ll get more opportunities to hit?
DH.
he’ll get even more opportunities to hit in the AL. he just won’t have to play a position to get them.
Oh. Confusing headlines.
5.56mm
The AL has one more lineup spot for a good hitter, and the opportunity to DH allows hit to hit without as much wear and tear on the body.
I heard his starting salary would be about $560,000. If he had waited 2 more years to jump to MLB he could have signed for $200 million.
Isn’t Pujoles contract until 2020? So he can’t DH the games he doesn’t pitch.
He’s an enigma, wrapped in a mystery.
Here We Go, Ham Fighters
Here We Go!
Really? Do the Japanese leagues and major league baseball have some agreements regarding playing time, seniority, etc. regarding free agency?
Doesn’t make sense. If he’s such a good hitter besides being a good pitcher, why doesn’t he go to a National League team where he’ll get more opportunities to hit?
In the American League, he could be a designated hitter on days he doesn’t pitch.
could this guy be like Babe Ruth? Remember Babe was a fine pitcher, before he switched to the outfield so he would be in the lineup everyday.
Jack Elliot: Big hit, happy body!
OK, I never even considered they’d put him in as a DH. That just boggles the mind.
They’ll probably sign Darvish as well.
I don’t see how his batting stats show such great promise. Why wouldn’t he be better off specializing as a pitcher? Those are certainly not Ruthian hitting stats.
Weren’t his batting statistics the year before he got injured phenomenal?
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