NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Let the bidding war for Japanese superstar Shohei Otani begin.
Major League Baseball’s owners voted Friday via conference call to ratify a new posting system that allows the pitcher/outfielder to become a free agent in North America. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball will post Otani with a release fee of $20 million.
Teams will have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 22 to negotiate with the 23-year-old.
“Major League Baseball values greatly its longstanding relationship with Nippon Professional Baseball and is pleased that the parties have reached an agreement,” Dan Halem, MLB’s chief legal officer, said in a statement.