Report: New CBA could push Otani's MLB debut to 2019

With the new collective bargaining agreement in place, baseball won't be going on strike amid new changes - such as a luxury tax hike and restructured draft pick compensation.

One part of the new, restructured CBA, however, will stop fans from witnessing the next coming of Japan's best player for at least a few more years.

With the international signing age changing to 25 years, 22-year-old Japanese star Shohei Otani won't come to Major League Baseball until 2019, according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.

"We do have a bit of an Otani problem," an official told Passan, who adds that if Otani came over before 2019, the max offer he could receive is around $6 million. If the pitcher/hitter waited to become a true free agent, Passan writes, Otani would probably receive north of $250 million.

"I actually think the guy might get a $300-million deal," a scout told Joel Sherman of the New York Post in early November. "That is how special a talent he is. He has power No. 1 starter stuff. He is throwing 99 (mph) in the eighth inning. His secondary stuff is unhittable. He is big and loose. His fastball is electric and his curve, cutter, and split are all 70s (on the 20-80 scouting scale).

"And I think he is getting better as a hitter. I think an American hitting coach teaches him to turn on the ball more and he can be a 45-homer guy. He has Darryl Strawberry power. He is the face of a franchise. He is a big, handsome guy, and when he plays baseball you cannot take your eyes off of him."

Otani, who recently won Japanese League MVP honors, not only made 20 starts for the Nippon Ham Fighters last season - posting a 1.86 ERA in the process - but also slashed .322/.416/.588 and drove in 67 runs across 323 at-bats.