General manager Bobby Evans and assistant GM Jeremy Shelley are in Japan to scout Shohei Otani, the talented pitcher and outfielder who probably will be courted by every major-league team when he is posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Otani, 23, is ready to come to the majors even though he cannot get a bonus of more than about $11 million under new rules.
The Giants and several other teams cannot give him more than $300,000 because they overspent their international cap limit in 2015. However, since money does not seem to be Otani's prime motivation, the Giants hope to persuade him that San Francisco is a great city and the Giants are a desirable team.