Scout: Japanese star Otani could get $300M MLB contract

With the offseason officially under way and free agency beginning, one mysterious name drawing attention is Japanese phenom Shohei Otani.

Otani, the 22-year-old right-hander who's made quite a name for himself by pitching like a top starter, while also hitting 22 home runs last season in the Japanese league, could receive a massive MLB contract in the future.

Otani's not expected to make his move until next offseason, but at that point, it seems the sky is the limit.

"I actually think the guy might get a $300-million deal,” a scout told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "That is how special a talent he is. He has power No. 1 starter stuff. He is throwing 99 (mph) in the eighth inning. His secondary stuff is unhittable. He is big and loose. His fastball is electric and his curve, cutter, and split are all 70s (on the 20-80 scouting scale).

"And I think he is getting better as a hitter. I think an American hitting coach teaches him to turn on the ball more and he can be a 45-homer guy. He has Darryl Strawberry power. He is the face of a franchise. He is a big, handsome guy and when he plays baseball you cannot take your eyes off of him."

Otani not only made 20 starts for the Nippon Ham Fighters last season, posting a 1.86 ERA in the process, but he also slashed .322/.416/.588 and drove in 67 runs across 323 at-bats. His ability to pitch and hit is drawing comparisons to one of the game's greatest players, with a similar skill set.

"I hate to use the name Babe Ruth, but who was the last player we thought might be able to be both your ace and your cleanup hitter?" an American League scouting director explained. "There is always mystery because you have to translate a guy who pitches once a week on Saturday or Sunday and the hitting from there to here. But the talent translates. It is obvious and terrific."