What can Minnesota offer Shohei Otani?

[Riverbrian]

If I understand it correctly. The Twins have the third highest amount of International Pool dollars to offer him but it really isn't enough of a difference to stop him from simply choosing whatever team he wants to sign with. 

 

It seems that his recruitment will have the feel of the top QB picking what college team he wants to play for. The Coaches will be buzzing with promises. 

 

So with that in mind... what unique thing can Minnesota offer him to get him to spurn those other teams and sign with us. 

 

Here's some ideas:

 

1. Have the State of Minnesota declare that Mille Lacs Lake will be called Lake Otani. Mille Lacs is a goofy name anyway. 

 

2. Promise him a starring movie in Fargo II. Write a Scene where he puts whoever is responsible for the posting system in the woodchipper.  

 

3. Endorsement Contracts for Red Wing Shoes, Best Buy and Target. The contracts will contain stipulations that provides free shoes for life, unlimited 15% off of everything Target gift card and his own personal geek squad to fix any issues on products purchased at Target.   

 

4. His own private skyway that stretches from Target Field to Cancun, Mexico so he doesn't have to endure Winter at all. 

 

5. That really big spoon with a Cherry on it. Just give it to him. We don't really need it. 

 

 

[Blake]

Wow, RB, Spring Training is 96 days away. Thinking about turning pro and working out across the off-season?

[Guest]

Give him the Kmart on Lake and Nicollet, where Willie Mays used to play, and call him the Sho Hey Kid.

[snepp]

[Brock Beauchamp]

Hotdish. Passive-aggressive behavior. A Delta Skymiles card. Post-It notes.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I was going to say that they should let him try and be a two way player...

 

But I'm sure some cultural training so that he can properly say "ya sure, you bechya" and sound just like a northerner.

 

That and a metrodome urine trough... I mean... who wouldn't want one of those?

[dbminn]

Exclusive mix tapes from the Prince Archive.

[Badsmerf]

Free love boat rides.

[Winston Smith]

Give him a Nishioka jersey if he signs.

[Darius]

Lutefisk maki

[nicksaviking]

I say we just give him back the incriminating photos we have of him with the dead prostitute.

 

Save the copies for his second contract of course.

[mazeville]

 

Give him a Nishioka jersey if he signs.

 

He can have mine.

 

Seriously, I still have one. Actually, it's a shersey. Still. Says Nishioka on the back. Wore it a lot during the 103-loss season.

[Blake]

 

Obviously not State Fair lutefisk..no stick.

[mazeville]

At the risk of ruining this most excellent thread ... why not the Twins?

 

Major league clubs are limited in what they can pay Otani. And only the Rangers and the Yankees can pay more than the Twins under current rules. 

 

Now, I would not put the Twins ahead of the Rangers and the Yankees necessarily. The Yankees in particular offer Otani sponsorship opportunities to make up whatever gap there is. 

 

But couldn't the Twins let him be a two-way player? And it's not as if this is a terrible place -- hey, we all live here. And Target Field is awesome. 

 

In any event, I've been reading a lot of things that suggest the Twins have no chance. But the Twins should at least give it a shot. And I think it's high time this area stop being so self defeating when it comes to free agents.

 

But just in case, please, nobody send him any lutefisk.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not sure we have no chance... Money is clearly not his primary motive, otherwise he would have waited 2 years. The question becomes what Otani really wants... 

[zenser]

I thought I read somewhere that teams that paid into the luxury tax would also have their international dollars reduced (fairly significantly) if they sign a FA that was offered a qualifying offer.  So the Yankees would have their pool reduced.  I don't think Texas fell into that group though.  I need to find that link. 

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/which-draft-picks-each-team-would-lose-by-signing-a-qualified-free-agent.html

 

[mazeville]

This link includes the teams that can pay Otani more than $1 million. 

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/latest-on-shohei-otani-4.html

 

Money is clearly not the motivating factor. I'd still say the Yankees would be the frontrunner, much as I hate to admit it. Because if you're sacrificing money to come play baseball in the best league in the world, you'd probably want to play on its biggest stage.

 

But ... I still say the Twins should make a play for him and see what they can do. 

[prouster]

I'm not sure we have no chance... Money is clearly not his primary motive, otherwise he would have waited 2 years. The question becomes what Otani really wants...

I think you're right. Although everything being equal, it's nice to have more money than 27 other teams.

[Winston Smith]

The pool money is not the issue for the Twins it's the 20 mill they have to pay the team he plays for in Japan. The Yankees can afford that, the Twins won't pay that, imo.

 

I've read that the Yankees might trade Betances, my idea is to trade some of the int. pool money to the Yankees for Betances. Might be a bad idea but I'm full of bad ideas.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Give him a Nishioka jersey if he signs.

Ouch!

[drjim]

The pool money is not the issue for the Twins it's the 20 mill they have to pay the team he plays for in Japan. The Yankees can afford that, the Twins won't pay that, imo.

 

I've read that the Yankees might trade Betances, my idea is to trade some of the int. pool money to the Yankees for Betances. Might be a bad idea but I'm full of bad ideas.

Considering the Twins have recently spent more than twice that for free agent pitchers, the $20mil is not going to be the problem.

 

I do like the Betances idea.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd rather not send Otani to NY if he is the talent everyone seems to think... forgot though about the Yankees losing IFA dollars. Wonder if that was included in the 3M number they could supposedly offer.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'd rather not send Otani to NY if he is the talent everyone seems to think... forgot though about the Yankees losing IFA dollars. Wonder if that was included in the 3M number they could supposedly offer.

depends if you can come to agreement with his current team and posting fees and all that. I agree it would be best to go get Otani as the best young talent available. However if you can’t get that deal done with his current team, might as well benefit from the situation somehow. Betances would be a very good consolation prize

[Mike Sixel]

Interesting idea on trading the international money if they can't sign him.

 

A lifetime fishing license and a private lake would be nice.

 

How about offering him the chance to be the next gopher's football coach.... He could further expand his reputation for being multi talented

[Guest]

Three things I don’t understand:

 

1. Is the international pool number for each team just their number for this year? Won’t most teams start from the same number next year?

2. Will Otani count against a team’s international pool number only in the year he signs or for every year of his contract?

3. Will Otani’s agent want the right to enter free agency soon after Otani turns 25, when he supposedly can make a lot more money? If that’s the case, they probably want a two-year deal with no option years right now.

[d-mac]

 

Lutefisk maki

 

Lutefisk and spam sushi roll. The "Minnesota roll" 

 

Edit: Has to be served on a stick.

[Respy]

Let's annex South Dakota and put Otani's face on Mount Rushmore. 

 

Or at the least, make him a huge corn mural at the Corn Palace.  Maybe he has a deep-down desire to be a corn star...

[Mike Sixel]

Let's annex South Dakota and put Otani's face on Mount Rushmore.

 

Or at the least, make him a huge corn mural at the Corn Palace. Maybe he has a deep-down desire to be a corn star...

Nicely played

[Respy]

 

Maybe he has a deep-down desire to be a corn star...

 

Sorry, corny joke.

[Steve Lein]

 

Three things I don’t understand:

1. Is the international pool number for each team just their number for this year? Won’t most teams start from the same number next year?
2. Will Otani count against a team’s international pool number only in the year he signs or for every year of his contract?
3. Will Otani’s agent want the right to enter free agency soon after Otani turns 25, when he supposedly can make a lot more money? If that’s the case, they probably want a two-year deal with no option years right now.

 

1. yes, and no.

 

2. only year he signs. It's the bonus money.

 

3. This is what they're not allowing to happen under the international rules. He's subject to the same rules as every other international player. Can't sign an MLB deal like you outline.