Skip to content

Manfred: Unlikely that teams will be able to break rules to sign Otani

Masterpress / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred doesn't believe the enormous amount of interest in soon-to-be free agent Shohei Otani will result in teams trying to circumvent the current rules in order to land the Japanese star.

And if they do try, Manfred is confident they won't be successful in their efforts.

"With regard to speculation as to what clubs are going to do, in today's basic agreement structure, there's only so much you can do in an effort to avoid the rules," Manfred said, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star Telegram.

"And I have an outstanding staff in New York. If you're talking about doing something with a 14-year-old kid in the Dominican Republic that nobody has ever heard of, you might get past us. Given the focus on Otani, not only by our office but by the clubs as a group, I think it's very, very unlikely a club is going to be able to avoid the rules and not be caught if they attempt to avoid the rules."

Due to the new collective bargaining agreement, Otani would sacrifice millions of dollars by coming to the majors this winter as a 23-year-old. He'll be forced to sign a minor-league deal, and his signing bonus will max out at $10.1 million depending on the available international signing bonus pool money the team that signs him possesses. It's believed the two-way star could land a contract worth nearly $200 million should he wait two years when he's 25, and is no longer held under international limits.

While most small market teams are held out of negotiations with star international free agents, the low price tag on Otani leaves the door open for all 30 teams to have a legitimate shot of at least entertaining an offer. The low price tag, however, has also led to speculation that clubs could potentially sign Otani to a minor-league deal, and soon after agree to a lucrative multi-year extension. Manfred, though, will keep a close eye on all contract negotiations.

"Great players, we want them here. But more important than getting Otani is making sure we have the right international system in place," Manfred said. "I'm not so anxious to have him here that I'm prepared to compromise on what should happen in terms of the international talent acquisition system.”

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox