STAMFORD, Conn. _ How much does Brian Cashman want Shohei Otani to be a Yankee?
Cashman made a live televised plea to the two-way Japanese star on Friday while hanging from a building in Stamford.
"Otani-san, New York's been waiting for this moment," Cashman said to a Fox 5 camera. "This is a stage for all the great players in the world to play on. Obviously we believe you're one of those next great players. I hope you're listening. We're saying it loud, from the top of buildings, we're interested."
Earlier, Cashman was standing on the rooftop of One Landmark Square, the building which Cashman will rappel down on Sunday dressed as an elf as part of the city's annual holiday festivities. The general manager would love to play Santa Claus to Yankees fans by signing Otani before the Dec. 22 deadline.
Otani was posted on Friday and is available to all major-league clubs for a $20 million fee, which will go to his Japanese team. Under the rules, the Yankees can offer the right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitter a $3.5 million signing bonus, which is the second-most of any team. The Texas Rangers can offer the 23-year-old $3.53 million.
"He's an exciting young talent and would fit perfectly with us," Cashman said. "But unfortunately he would fit very well for everybody."
Cashman said the Yankees are willing to let Otani to pitch as a starter and hit on the days he is not starting. Otani is an outfielder, but the Yankees and all AL clubs can offer the designated hitter spot for when he is not pitching, which should help their chances over NL clubs.
What the Yankees cannot use is their financial might because of the restrictions placed on Otani's contract under the rules agreed to by Major League Baseball, the Japanese league and the MLB Players' Association. As a true free agent, Otani might command a contract of more than $200 million.
Last week, the Yankees and other interested clubs submitted a detailed response to a getting-to-know-you questionnaire for Otani prepared by his representatives at CAA.
"We spent a lot of time and it involved a lot of different departments," Cashman said. "Obviously, he's a player of unique abilities. Certainly hopeful that he sees all the characteristics the New York Yankees would have to offer. But again, a very dynamic, unique player that can play both sides of the ball and an exciting talent. Certainly this franchise has spent a long time looking at this player, scouting him all the way back to 2012. (I) flew over there in August to personally see him pitch. He's someone of extreme value and very attractive talent and a unique talent because he possesses the ability to play both sides of the ball as a hitter and pitcher. We're anxious to see how this process will play out."
Cashman stressed the Yankees' successful history with Japanese players such as Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui. Both could be part of the team's pitch to Otani. Cashman said he didn't know if and when in-person meetings with Otani will begin and that the only contact through Friday had been the questionnaire.
"We took great pains in an effort to educate him and his family and his representation about who the New York Yankees are and what we bring," Cashman said. "Whether it's within that clubhouse, within that locker room, within the facilities, with the dynamics of our franchise. We have great ownership here that's been in place now as a family for 40 years with a winning legacy and a commitment to winning that's second to none ... . That should be an attractive quality to anybody who's looking to play at the highest level. It's a big stage here and it's meant to have the best talent play on it. Otani represents the next great talent that's available in the world of baseball. This stage is made for players like this and that's why we certainly are going to be aggressive in this process to the degree we can, because it's not a bidding war."
