ARLINGTON -- Rangers officials were in Los Angeles on Tuesday to meet with two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani and his representatives, sources told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the meeting.
The delegation was headed by co-owner Ray Davis, general manager Jon Daniels and manager Jeff Banister. Also present at the meeting were assistant general manager Josh Boyd, medical director Jamie Reed, strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez, and Japanese scouts Joe Furukawa and Hajime Watabe.
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Boyd, Furukawa and Watabe have been part of the Rangers' significant scouting efforts in Japan and tried to sign Ohtani out of high school before he signed with the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
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Reed and Vazquez are there to address any concerns and questions Ohtani might have about the Rangers' medical and training programs. But Banister will likely deliver the most important message.
Banister is expected to address Ohtani's desire to be able to both pitch and hit in the big leagues. The Rangers need Ohtani as a pitcher, but any club that signs him is expected to indulge his hope of being able to swing the bat at least on a part-time basis. Banister is on record as saying that Ohtani has the ability to do both.
The Rangers are one of seven teams expected to meet with Ohtani this week. The others are the Mariners, Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Angels and Cubs. Of those seven teams, the Rangers currently have $3.535 million of international bonus money room.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram first reported the Rangers meeting was on Tuesday.