re: Yankees NOT among finalists for Ohtani

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I saw today where the Giants are one of two teams that have the frame work in place for a Stanton trade deal. Signing Ohtani may be enough to convince Stanton to get on board and not reject the trade

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I would squirt

Has to be Seattle

Unlike every other Club, he can make a fortune in endorsements with Seattle. Their Japanese owner can get him major endorsements from Japan, and push him on Sony brand also.

No one can match the endorsement deals Seattle owner can get for him.

I read awhile back that Seattle was willing to have Nelson Cruz play in the outfield on Ohtani's non-pitching days to let him DH.

Found it - NBCspots link

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Ohtani, however, is said to be less motivated by money than he is by finding the right situation. While a lot of guys say that, the fact that Ohtani is coming over to the U.S. now, when his financial prospects are limited, as opposed to waiting for two years when he is not subject to the bonus caps and could sign for nine figures, suggests that he is telling the truth. As such, a team like the Mariners that is willing to allow him to hit and pitch could make up for the couple of million less they have in bonus money to spend.

As for how that might work logistically, Dipoto said that the team would be willing to play DH Nelson Cruz a few days in the outfield to accommodate Ohtani, allowing him to DH on the days he’s not pitching. That might be . . . interesting to see, but given how badly the Mariners could use a good starting pitcher, they have an incentive to be creative.

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Looks like it will make up for the about 2 million in difference in the bonus available (Texas can spend around 3.5 million while Seattle can spend about 1.57 million).

Disregard Seattle comment

Japanese owner sold his share in 2016.

I'm hearing we sent our ambassador Yulieski Gurriel to try and win him over. Yuli's year with the NPB makes him ideal for this situation.

Yuliashi Gurrimoto will bring great honor to Houston by securing Ohtani.

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No news on Texas so they are still in at the moment supposedly.

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no

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Also seems like he really doesn't want to play in a large market. All things pointing to Seattle

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The greater Seattle metro area is 3.6 million people.

If he wants small - go to San Diego.

Seattle. Or the Cubs. Book it.

Pretty easy to see why. 600 km closer than any other MLB city to Japan, large asian population, the greatest MLB Japanese player in history played the outfield for Seattle in the prime years of Ohtani's childhood, small market so not nearly the pressure of producing in Boston, New York, or Los Angeles. And he really only has to stay a few years if he plans on making the jump for a huge payday after he proves himself On top of that, he's a young kid and its a drastic change in his life, I can see why he wants to attempt to be as comfortable as possible in his first couple years playing in the majors.

But I would absolutely love the melt if he made his way to the Astros somehow, the one reason I can see this, is him not having pressure with such a great team around him + the potential of getting a World Series ring out of the way early so he doesn't end up like Ichiro, being ringless