Yankees to use Hideki Matsui as recruitment tool for Shohei Otani

It is still unknown whether or not Japanese superstar Shohei Otani will be posted this winter, but if he is, expect former postseason hero Hideki Matsui to be apart of the Yankees recruitment process.

Shohei Otani is the name that people can’t stop saying around baseball this offseason. Will he or will he not be posted this offseason? In the case that he does make the jump to the United States, expect the Yankees to be making a hard push for the phenom.

It is no surprise the Yanks are going all in for Otani, especially considering he is drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth and he could fill a potential hole in their pitching rotation while taking at-bats at DH.

More from Yankees News

• Scott Boras closed Yankees-Carlos Rodón deal from Fenway Park, put cherry on top
• Orioles are bailing out Yankees and AL East by botching free agency
• Guy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auction
• Did Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?
• Andrew Benintendi-White Sox deal proves Yankees were right to prioritize Carlos Rodón

If these sweepstakes do come to fruition, former Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui is expecting to contribute in the attempt to bring Otani to the big apple:

“If he’s allowed to come here and the Yankees are interested, then I expect to be involved in that process as maybe trying to convince him or recruit him to the Yankees.” Matsui told MLB.com. “As far as I’ve seen, he’s a good pitcher and he’s a good hitter as well,” Matsui said through a translator. “He’s done well in Japan, so as a baseball fan I’m looking forward to how he’s going to do here in the majors and in the U.S.”

Many consider the Yankees one of the favorites to land the two-way star thanks to the tremendous marketing opportunities in a massive market like New York as well as the franchise’s illustrious history.

Other interested teams include the Rangers, Twins and Mets.

Otani is still currently only 23-years-old and had a solid, albeit injury-plagued season last year with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. In 231 plate appearances, he batted .332/.403/.540 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs.

On the mound, he hurled to a 3-2 record with a 3.20 ERA spread out through five starts.

Next: Hensley Meulens interviews for Yankees manager’s job

Regardless, by potentially bringing Hideki Matsui into the mix, the Yanks are bettering their chances of bringing Otani’s talents to the Bronx.