Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) have reportedly agreed on a new posting system which clears the way for Japanese star Shohei Ohtani to play in MLB next season.
Had the deal not been agreed to, Ohtani would not have been able to sign with an MLB team this offseason. According to the New York Post, Ohtani will be posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters sometime around next Friday.
The tentative agreement for the new posting system is reportedly a three-year deal that will start next offseason which means these rules will not apply to the signing of Ohtani this winter.
The three-year posting deal has many layers to it. The transaction system is now completed on a percentage rather than a flat rate, according to reports.
When a player is signed for $20 million or less by an MLB team, the NPB team will be paid 20 percent of that total in return, if a player is paid $25 to $50 million, the NPB team will make 17 1/2 percent of what he signed for, and finally for any player signed for $50 million or more the team will receive a 15 percent return.
Beginning next offseason Japanese clubs will get 20 percent of the value for a player who signs an MLB contract of less than $25M, 17 1-2 pct for $25M-$50M, 15 pct $50M-$100M. For $100M or more 1st $25M 20pct, next $25M 17 1-2 pct, anything above that 15 pct
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 21, 2017
Sorry, I made a mistake on the high end of posting fees to Japanese clubs beginning next year, for all contracts over $50M it is a 15 pct return for the NPB club. There is NO additional amendments for over $100M.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 21, 2017
There is also a no-pullback position for NPB teams, an extended signing period for posted players, and additionally, 25 percent of every minor-league deal a Japanese player signs will go back to the NPB team that posted him.
As for Ohtani, who none of this applies to personally, the bidding will begin for him around next Friday and teams will have 21 days to sign the Japanese star. Several teams have been mentioned as potential landing spots for the two-way star.
Ohtani is 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA in five seasons with the Fighters. He has a .286/.358/.500 slash line with 48 homers and 166 RBIs during that span.