Do the Atlanta Braves try to sign multitalented Shohei Otani?

Two-way player in Atlanta? Oh heck yes, please!

Think about this for a second.  You have a Major League Baseball player who starts the game in the outfield and is listed on the lineup card as an outfielder.  But, as the game gets to the fifth inning, your original starter is tired and struggling.  The immediate thought would be to go to the bullpen and bring in your long reliever.  However, instead of that, what if your next man to hit the mound was – in the outfield?

Or reverse that and your starting pitcher has gone five or six innings and needs to come out, but instead, he stays in the game to hit and a double-switch is in effect.

Yes, a two-way player!

Now, what if that two-way player took Atlanta by storm in 2018 because he was on the Atlanta Braves? Add him, with Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson, oh boy!!

That would be some exciting baseball not only from a fan’s perspective, but from a team’s perspective that could immediately place the Braves right back in contention in the National League.

That player that could do this, Shohei Otani from Japan.

Otani Is No Joke

Otani, who is currently a member of the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, has had indications that he will be posted for Major League teams to take a run on him.

His posting fee – $20 million – which might be too high for the Braves, but they might as well try with the type of production he could contribute.  All 30 MLB teams will at least do the paperwork on this guy…he’s that good.

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Immediately, Otani would make an impact in the pitching rotation for the Braves.  Otani’s — 23-years-old — record over the past five years he has played, 40 wins and only 15 losses and has a career ERA of 2.57.  The Braves ERA as a team this year is 4.79, almost double that of Otani.

Not only can Otani pitch, he can hit.

Over five seasons, he has played in 393 games and compiled 289 hits for a batting average of .287.  The Braves’ team batting average this year is .265.

On top of that, Otani’s on-base percentage is .358 over those 393 games.  This year, the Braves’ team on-base percentage is .328.

Many writers are thinking Otani will go with an NL team so that he can hit while pitching.  So that may narrow it down in favor of the Braves.

The Associated Press has reported that the Texas Rangers would offer the most money to Otani at $3.535 million, but the New York Yankees could be right behind them and offer $3.25 million.

The Braves haven’t released what they’re willing to spend this offseason, but a good guess would be around $28MM.

Otani hasn’t yet picked an MLB agent so that may have a lot to do with where he signs.  If Scott Boras is the man, you can almost eliminate the Braves right then and there.

Right now, if I’m predicting where he lands, I’d have to go with the Yankees, Dodgers or wherever Yu Darvish signs this offseason.  Supposedly Darivsh and Otani are good friends.

One other big speculation problem to joining the Braves is that his immediate earning potential will be limited by teams international bonus pools.  And the Braves are limited to a maximum $300K contract.

Predictions to sign with the Atlanta Braves: 5%

In other words…not good

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The price of Otani will be extremely high and I’m not sure the Braves have it in them to make this signing.  But if you can bring in a player who makes an immediate impact in all aspects of your game, why not at least try?  There is nothing to lose…well, other than lots of $$$.