05-22-2019, 11:48 AM
To me the biggest possible threat for MLB out of this is Japanese leagues pursuing LatAm talent, but could also be an opportunity.
If the Nippon League is willing to relax its foreign player limits and pay more than MLB for such prospects, it could lockup the best ones and pay them more than MLB does from say 18-24. A market full of Free Agents at say age 24-25, coming from Japan, available to MLB teams, could form, making for some interesting signing and roster-building decisions. Japanese teams could become a much higher level farm system of sorts for MLB, and rake in more cash as their best prospects pursue MLB after turning 24 or 25 since they get a portion of their earnings as transfer fees.
We've every few years seen a top Japanese player be involved in a bidding war with a few teams, but we could see a time where there are dozens of elite Japanese League prospects annually - from North and South America, and Japan - available for MLB teams to sign. That sure would make the off-season a lot more interesting for MLB fans. As it is now, most payers don't become free until 27 or 28, when MLB has declared they are declining in value. Imagine the whole league getting access to 24 and 25 year old Free Agents about to hit their prime. That would be compelling.
If the Nippon League is willing to relax its foreign player limits and pay more than MLB for such prospects, it could lockup the best ones and pay them more than MLB does from say 18-24. A market full of Free Agents at say age 24-25, coming from Japan, available to MLB teams, could form, making for some interesting signing and roster-building decisions. Japanese teams could become a much higher level farm system of sorts for MLB, and rake in more cash as their best prospects pursue MLB after turning 24 or 25 since they get a portion of their earnings as transfer fees.
We've every few years seen a top Japanese player be involved in a bidding war with a few teams, but we could see a time where there are dozens of elite Japanese League prospects annually - from North and South America, and Japan - available for MLB teams to sign. That sure would make the off-season a lot more interesting for MLB fans. As it is now, most payers don't become free until 27 or 28, when MLB has declared they are declining in value. Imagine the whole league getting access to 24 and 25 year old Free Agents about to hit their prime. That would be compelling.