Last winter, rumors swirled around Japanese standout Shohei Otani. In the end, he wound up re-signing with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan for 2017. As reigning World Series champs, the Chicago Cubs – with their large pocketbook – are a logical potential landing spot.
Right-handed ace and 2015 National League Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta could very well hit the open market next winter. This would leave a considerable hole in the Cubs’ rotation moving forward. Rumor has it Otani is tempted to test the waters of Major League Baseball in the near future.