Well, it finally happened. The new posting system has been ratified (unanimously) by owners, and Shohei Ohtani will officially be available for every MLB team to bid on when he gets posted later today.
Shohei Ohtani has officially been posted so it’s time to GET EXCITED
Let the games begin.
Some parts of the posting system will be the same as the old one, at least for this year. The most important rollover facet is that the Nippon-Ham Fighters will receive a $20 million posting fee from the team that signs Ohtani.
Any team that puts up a top bid will then have 21 days (down from a month) to negotiate a deal with him. That means Dec. 22, otherwise he goes back to Japan. It shouldn’t be too hard, since he can’t make that much money and all the team has to do is convince him to love its entire city and organization in a few weeks without the lure of immense wealth.
Easy!
Shohei Ohtani’s journey to being posted
Ohtani almost doesn’t get the chance to be posted thanks to a lapsed agreement.
The MLBPA and Nippon Professional Baseball negotiate down to the wire.
The new posting system is agreed to, clearing the way for the bidding process.
A memo is sent to all MLB teams outlining questions for them to answer.
Scott Boras commented on the entire Ohtani process.
Which team is going to sign him? We don’t know.
After that period, or if a deal is struck earlier than that, Ohtani will get signed to an MLB team and that team will then cut a $20 million check to the Fighters. None of the other teams will have to pay the Fighters a dime.
Now, we still have no idea which team will sign Ohtani and benefit from his two-way play, but teams have been filling out questionnaires in earnest in the hopes that they’ll win this lottery. Just because there’s not a favorite doesn’t mean each team doesn’t think it’s the favorite. Fake it ‘til you make it, right?
Reports say that Ohtani is currently in Los Angeles and ready to start meeting with teams soon. So put on your biggest smiles and polish up the last bits of those questionnaires, front offices, because now is your time to shine.
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