You may have heard about the Japanese Babe Ruth who’s on his way to North America. Shohei Ohtani looks like he can pitch like Yu Darvish and maybe hit like Shawn Green if everything breaks right, and wouldn’t that be a great addition to any team. Good thing he comes with such understated expectations.



Getting a player to come over from the Japanese leagues is always complicated, but the fact that Ohtani is coming over now, instead of in two years when he’d be free to sign for any amount with any team, does simplify things. Money is not the reason for his jump to MLB — he’s cut his career earning potentials by as much as nine figures, and the most he can get from any team in bonus money right now is $3.53 million from the Texas Rangers, with the New York Yankees right behind at $3.5 million.



Of course, there are 12 teams tied with the Giants who can give him $300,000, and that spread itself is not large. What’s $3 million when...