Why The Cubs Should Go After Shohei Otani

            It's rumored that one of Japan's biggest baseball superstars, Shohei Otani, could be on his way to MLB as soon as next season. Although he suffered a setback with a groin injury that sidelined him for six weeks, he will still be a hot commodity if he comes over from Japan. It's also rumored that the New York Yankees, who are no strangers to signing Japanese superstars, are in front for the Otani sweepstakes. But here's why Theo Epstein and crew should get on top of signing Otani to the Cubs' rotation and stop the Yankees from signing yet another Japanese superstar.

1. Otani is (Or Looks to be) the Real Deal: Armed with a 100-MPH fastball, Otani is capable of blowing hitters away with ease. His career WHIP is 1.06, his SO9 is 10.3, and his last three seasons saw his ERA go below 3. His RAvg has also continued to drop since his rookie season, going as low as 2.12 last year. 
2. Believe It Or Not, the Cubs' Rotation Isn't Stellar Right Now: While the Cubs have a team ERA of 3.60, which isn't bad, pitchers like Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, and Brett Anderson have struggled so far this season. Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester have been solid for the season, but both are getting older. How great would the Cubs be if they got a pitcher who was not only solid, but young at the ripe age of 22?
3. Otani Would Fit In Well In the National League: Otani doesn't just pitch. He also plays the outfield and can hit the ball. Last season, Otani batted .322 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs in 104 games. He also had an OPS of 1.004, a Slugging Percentage of .588, and an OBP of .416. Adding Otani could also benefit the Cubs' lineup and make the North Siders even more lethal at the plate.

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