OTANI-YANKEE WONDER

Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

A ton of speculation about whether or not the Yankees will go after Japanese superstar Shohei Otani.  I honestly don't see it happening, but what the hell... it sure is fun.

The latest is that Otani has hired an agent, which basically puts him in a situation to negotiate with a Major League team at some point. Plus they will help him go through all the red tape and BS of being an international player. Check this out. Sporting News has that:

Yohei Fukuyama/Kyodo News via AP

"Shohei Otani, the power-hitting Japan League star with a 100-mph fastball, "has every intention" of coming to America before next season, the Los Angeles Times reported, noting that he has hired an agent to represent him in the U.S.

The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Rangers are the teams that have been most prominently mentioned as interested in the two-way star of the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

L.A.-based Nez Balelo of CAA Sports will be Otani’s lead agent, charged with helping facilitate the heavily scouted prospect's move, which is complicated by the current state of rules governing player transfers from Japan to MLB, according to the report, which cited multiple unidentified sources familiar with the situation.

Photo: New York Daily News

The most recent agreement governing such transfers just expired, and MLB, the players union and Nippon Professional Baseball must agree to new rules before Otani can sign with a major-league organization."

And if they can get Otani through all the hoops... you know the Yankees will try. The New York Post writes...

"The Yankees are interested enough in acquiring Otani that general manager Brian Cashman took a trip to Japan to see him pitch in person."

And that's it folks.  That's all we really know.  For 1, it's complicated. 2... the Yankees like him.

Stay tuned.