Shohei Ohtani

[Ray D]

Baby seals only?

No you definitely don't want to go whippin' on anyone's favorite baby seal or you'll go blind.

[bluestreak]

Only way I see it is if the Nats win the World Series and they resign Harper in the offseason. That would make that Nats as interesting as any of those teams.

[awbb]

No you definitely don't want to go whippin' on anyone's favorite baby seal or you'll go blind.

You will, but only temporarily.

[Ray D]

You will, but only temporarily.

Yeah but you have to go trudgin' across the frozen tundra to get your sight back.

[bluestreak]

He doesn't have a U.S. based agent yet. What if it ends up as Boras?

[tzinc]

don't say the Nats won't pay they pay when there is value

and if he signs with Boras odds go up as well

[Mattionals]

I know the guy is saying he isn't going to care about his contract, but Nats can only offer 300k I believe before hitting penalties(?). Rangers or Yanks can offer over 3 Million without penalties. Odds say he won't be coming here.

[DPMOmaha]

Hired the same agency as Zim.

[Slateman]

I know the guy is saying he isn't going to care about his contract, but Nats can only offer 300k I believe before hitting penalties(?). Rangers or Yanks can offer over 3 Million without penalties. Odds say he won't be coming here.

You take the penalitiew for that talent. The money is irrelevant. He will go where he can be recognized and succeed. That's not here.

[hotshot]

You take the penalitiew for that talent. The money is irrelevant. He will go where he can be recognized and succeed. That's not here.

Unfortunately, DC is not a "destination location" for FAs, and likely never will be. Just doesn't have the glitz, weather, commercial opportunities, etc..

[Slateman]

Unfortunately, DC is not a "destination location" for FAs, and likely never will be. Just doesn't have the glitz, weather, commercial opportunities, etc..

It's a destination location. If you pay them.

[DPMOmaha]

Unfortunately, DC is not a "destination location" for FAs, and likely never will be. Just doesn't have the glitz, weather, commercial opportunities, etc..

Bryce seems to be doing just fine. DC's one of the world's greatest cities. It can absolutely be a destination. Takes time to build that reputation, though. Weather sucks pretty much everywhere in the middle of the summer, except San Diego and players aren't going there either.

[bluestreak]

Otani would have to be borderline retarded to come here next season. I hope his agent sits him down and tells him that he should wait.

[hotshot]

Bryce seems to be doing just fine. DC's one of the world's greatest cities. It can absolutely be a destination. Takes time to build that reputation, though. Weather sucks pretty much everywhere in the middle of the summer, except San Diego and players aren't going there either.

I'd call these the top destinations. Some for tradition (championships + ballparks + fan fervor), some for climate, some for lifestyle ambience, some for taxes, some for commercial opportunities outside baseball.

1. So Cal (Dodgers/Angels/Padres)
2. NYC (Yankees/Mets)               
3. Boston
4. Arizona                                   
5. Chi (Cubs)                       
6. SF
7. Miami

[HalfSmokes]

Otani would have to be borderline retarded to come here next season. I hope his agent sits him down and tells him that he should wait.

Since his bonus is so limited, is there anything to keep him from negotiating in the right to opt out after this season?

[DPMOmaha]

I'd call these the top destinations. Some for tradition (championships + ballparks + fan fervor), some for climate, some for lifestyle ambience, some for taxes, some for commercial opportunities outside baseball.

1. So Cal (Dodgers/Angels/Padres)
2. NYC (Yankees/Mets)               
3. Boston
4. Arizona                                   
5. Chi (Cubs)                       
6. SF
7. Miami

There's no reason DC can't be on that list. From a baseball perspective, it's above Arizona and Miami. If it's for tax purposes, it's not uncommon for a player to live someplace other than where they play for the tax benefits. Think Scherzer is one of those. But taxes for pro athletes are obscenely complicated.

But considering how often FAs decide to go to places other than New York, or Southern California, it's reasonable to conclude there are many, many factors that go into how a player makes decisions about where to play.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

There's no reason DC can't be on that list. From a baseball perspective, it's above Arizona and Miami. If it's for tax purposes, it's not uncommon for a player to live someplace other than where they play for the tax benefits. Think Scherzer is one of those. But taxes for pro athletes are obscenely complicated.

But considering how often FAs decide to go to places other than New York, or Southern California, it's reasonable to conclude there are many, many factors that go into how a player makes decisions about where to play.

Ballplayers who live in VA probably can pay VA taxes and not DC like other commuters, I would think.

[Slateman]

Ballplayers who live in VA probably can pay VA taxes and not DC like other commuters, I would think.

I thought it was in the CBA that player were taxed by the city they play in.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I thought it was in the CBA that player were taxed by the city they play in.

I don't know. I know a few years ago it was an issue with NY and Jeter.  Many players claim to be residents of Florida

[HalfSmokes]

Ballplayers who live in VA probably can pay VA taxes and not DC like other commuters, I would think.

VA, DC, and MD have a tax agreement https://www.tax.virginia.gov/reciprocity

I thought it was in the CBA that player were taxed by the city they play in.

The cba is an agreement between employees and employers, it has no power to alter state income tax laws

[LoveAngelos]

Sure, but not here. They're going to want to play somewhere that has a shot at a championship.

That leaves out Balmer for one

[bluestreak]

VA, DC, and MD have a tax agreement https://www.tax.virginia.gov/reciprocity

The cba is an agreement between employees and employers, it has no power to alter state income tax laws

I live in DC and work in Maryland, but pay DC taxes. It would be the opposite if it were switched. The fact that DC isn’t allowed to tax it’s commuters is a huge sore spot.

[dcpatti]

Federal law is that your income is taxed where you live. The employer pays payroll and related taxes wherever the business is based. But some cities and states add a “jock tax” where they collect some tax on the money you earn while playing in that state or city. https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/fun-facts/7-crazy-taxes-from-the-us-and-abroad/L503QNBEQ

So no matter where you live, if you earn money playing even 1 game in Cali, Cali takes a cut.

This is kind of like Spain where you pay tax when you do business in Spain even if you’re British. But in Spain if you work outside of Spain, it’s tax free, which is part of the reason why my teammate in Spain is always the first one to volunteer for field assignments.

[Slateman]

I could have sworn I read somewhere that there was some sort of jock tax for visiting sports teams

[HalfSmokes]

Federal law is that your income is taxed where you live. The employer pays payroll and related taxes wherever the business is based.

You’re taxed where your income is earned (one of the reasons holding shares in an s Corp can be more trouble than its worth). Most metro areas have agreements so that, while you may pay a commuter tax, you don’t have to pay income tax in multiple states.

I could have sworn I read somewhere that there was some sort of jock tax for visiting sports teams

Per game taxes on visiting teams, one good reason not to travel if a player is injured