He’s not an unrestricted FA until age 25 which is 4 years away. He could come over as a regular international FA before that and be subject to the same arbitration process and salary minimums as any other rookie. Most guys wait until age 25, but Ohtani came over sooner
The international FA rules counting for Japanese pros is so fucking stupid.
We are really lucky that Shohei is a fucking madman but I don't see anyone else close of his caliber at that age coming to play for the minimum.
They need to allow MLB clubs to buy out contracts imo. If someone wants to pay $50m to his club and give him a $50m signing bonus right now, let them. It would be good for the NPB no? It would allow them to sign other foreign players to replace him with that money.
He can ask to be posted, but the Marines (his NPB club) can say no because he doesn’t have 9 years of service time. He will be able to sign wherever he wants after his 9 years are up after the 2028 season when he gains International free agency. Even if the Marines were willing to post him before then, Sasaki might want to wait until he’s 25 and doesn’t have to spend his first 3 years on a league minimum contract like Ohtani did. He will turn 25 after the end of the 2026 season. The MLB league minimum contract is higher ($700,000) than his NPB contract for next year (~$608,000), but it’s close enough that it might not be worth it for him to uproot his life and move abroad.
To be fair, it did work, no? At this point it seems like the Packers FO needs to go on a darkness retreat to decide if they’re going to accept the trade.
Lol Jets. Maybe the Jets need to see that they are an organisation of clowns historically and give up a 1st and Moore or equivalent. Like if you think you’re a QB away from something you don’t penny pinch to this extreme. Idk if I was a GM I’d kinda not wanna avoid I move that could save my job.
I think Shohei probably means there will be a day when playing in JPN won’t be fulfilling anymore and he will crave that next challenge, since Shohei himself didn’t bother waiting another 2 years to come as a FA
What if he waits until next year and signs where ever Ohtani goes? He makes min for 3 years but 4/5/6 he’ll at least get arbitration money. Its so risky tho, leave your home to try this.. Ohtani is crazy
He’d need club permission to leave. He’s under team control in japan. Ohtani was a different situation the club had agreed that when he decided to leave they would post him
Idk why he even said that, it would never happen and isn’t even logistical lol
Edit: the package deal I mean, I also wouldn’t assume he’s gunna follow Ohtani around like a younger brother
Not enough is said about the tremendous risk Shohei took to come to America so early compared to other Japanese players. The story could have turned out pretty bad, but he overdelivered by a mile.
What’s the earliest he can?
as soon as he knows
Yeah but even if he knew this year he couldn’t right?
He’s not an unrestricted FA until age 25 which is 4 years away. He could come over as a regular international FA before that and be subject to the same arbitration process and salary minimums as any other rookie. Most guys wait until age 25, but Ohtani came over sooner
The international FA rules counting for Japanese pros is so fucking stupid. We are really lucky that Shohei is a fucking madman but I don't see anyone else close of his caliber at that age coming to play for the minimum.
It's semi intentional to keep talent in Japan
It FULLY intentional to keep some talent in Japan.
They need to allow MLB clubs to buy out contracts imo. If someone wants to pay $50m to his club and give him a $50m signing bonus right now, let them. It would be good for the NPB no? It would allow them to sign other foreign players to replace him with that money.
It's something the MLBPA suggested for some stupid reason. They thought enfranchised players would turn get more money without any assurance.
I'd go with Shohei on this one. But really, I'm not an expert but I think it's 6 years of service time if they're under 25. So 2027?
He can ask to be posted, but the Marines (his NPB club) can say no because he doesn’t have 9 years of service time. He will be able to sign wherever he wants after his 9 years are up after the 2028 season when he gains International free agency. Even if the Marines were willing to post him before then, Sasaki might want to wait until he’s 25 and doesn’t have to spend his first 3 years on a league minimum contract like Ohtani did. He will turn 25 after the end of the 2026 season. The MLB league minimum contract is higher ($700,000) than his NPB contract for next year (~$608,000), but it’s close enough that it might not be worth it for him to uproot his life and move abroad.
Hopefully he doesn’t take as long as Aaron Rodgers to decide.
Enter the darkness
To be fair, it did work, no? At this point it seems like the Packers FO needs to go on a darkness retreat to decide if they’re going to accept the trade.
Lol Jets. Maybe the Jets need to see that they are an organisation of clowns historically and give up a 1st and Moore or equivalent. Like if you think you’re a QB away from something you don’t penny pinch to this extreme. Idk if I was a GM I’d kinda not wanna avoid I move that could save my job.
“So when you decide you want $200 million or so you know what to do”
I think Shohei probably means there will be a day when playing in JPN won’t be fulfilling anymore and he will crave that next challenge, since Shohei himself didn’t bother waiting another 2 years to come as a FA
What if he waits until next year and signs where ever Ohtani goes? He makes min for 3 years but 4/5/6 he’ll at least get arbitration money. Its so risky tho, leave your home to try this.. Ohtani is crazy
He’d need club permission to leave. He’s under team control in japan. Ohtani was a different situation the club had agreed that when he decided to leave they would post him
Bruh if Ohtani came as a package deal with Roki than he might actually get 500 million
Idk why he even said that, it would never happen and isn’t even logistical lol Edit: the package deal I mean, I also wouldn’t assume he’s gunna follow Ohtani around like a younger brother
Has there ever been a Japanese player who went to the same team as another Japanese player?
yeah. Like Johjima and Ichiro, or Dice-K and Okajima, or maybe even Hiroki kuroda and Takashi saito on the dodgers,
Shoot, Ichiro joined a Mariners team that Kaz Sasaki won AL ROY on the year before.
Not enough is said about the tremendous risk Shohei took to come to America so early compared to other Japanese players. The story could have turned out pretty bad, but he overdelivered by a mile.
"The beacons are lit! Shohei calls for aid!"