Tazawa Rumor Mongering
As you no doubt know by now, Junichi Tazawa went unselected in the recent NPB draft, clearing the way for him to sign with an MLB organization. While official negotiations reportedly won’t start until Nov 24 or so, Tazawa is meeting with representatives from the Mariners and Braves on Tuesday. I’ve picked up on about six teams interested in Tazawa, with the most recent addition to the mix being the Phillies.
Update, November 1 afternoon: Okay, it’s raining out here in Silicon Valley so I might keep going with this. Here are the teams that I’ve seen reported in the media as having interest in Tazawa:
- Boston
- Atlanta
- Seattle
- Pittsburgh
- Detroit
- Chicago Cubs
- Philadelphia
Japanball.com has the Kyodo version of the story I published above.
01/11/2008 at 2:51 pm Permalink
Tazawa makes the most sense for the Red Sox, especially if he can jump right in like Daisuke and Oki did in 2007; although he would be welcome depth through AAA also.
With Masterson evidently in the dugout, and Buchholz & Bowden needing time in AAA, the Sox rotation has a big hole: Beckett, Matsuzaka , Lester, . . . . . . . , Wakefield. Like all teams, they are having trouble with the health issues and mega-contracts demanded of available CC, AJ, Sheets and Lowe, and would doubtless prefer a suitable, long-term, better priced option elsewhere. The Sox have the need, the connections, the money, Japanese colleagues on the rotation, a translation & hospitality service in place, and a healthy aversion to Boras’ clients (see Manny, Veritek). Tazawa and the Sox might be a perfect fit.
01/11/2008 at 5:07 pm Permalink
Lot of people talking about Tazawa to the Sox making sense and him possibly making the Sox out of camp. While I agree he’s a good fit for the Red Sox, it is mainly for the opposite reason: they have no need to rush him. Sure he’s a first-round talent by most accounts, a 22-year old 3-pitch (fast/curve/shuuto) pitcher with very good major league potential. But because of the ability for the Sox to develop him using, what has been recently, one of the better developmental systems in the minor leagues, I would look for the Red Sox to sign Tazawa and start him out in the minors. Specifically, I would look for him to start in Portland, move him up to Pawtucket if he experiences success, and then depending on his development at the minor league level promote him to a bullpen role with Boston. Tazawa (signing for the $2M declined by Sox draft pick Alex Meyer) and Kawakami (filling in the Mike Timlin role with Boston’s bullpen) make a lot of sense for the Red Sox and I’d be surprised if they’re both not signed fairly quickly in Boston’s offseason.
01/11/2008 at 6:23 pm Permalink
I agree he would be a great fit for the Sox. But, there is no way he’d play in the bigs in the ’09 season…. not enough experience. He’ll certainly need some seasoning in the minors first. I’ve also heard there are some issues beyond lack of experience that would keep him out of the bigs for the entire season…. no word on what they are… likely “political” issues.
I agree that we have a glaring hole in the 4 spot (and I’m not too thrilled with them picking up Wake’s option…. but I hope he proves me a moron in ’09) but I think they might take a serious look at Brad Penny. If he can get over his lackluster season and return to ’06/’07 form he’d be a great, relatively inexpensive #4. Then you can have Wake split #5 with Bucholz or Bowden.
01/11/2008 at 9:07 pm Permalink
I haven’t followed Penny closely. What would ‘relatively inexpensive #4’ be and how long a contract would he require. Is Boras his agent? I watched him often in L.A., and when he gets hot he is better than a #4 . . . and that’s what the Sox need, a Braves-dynasty type of roster, because that’s what the Rays are putting together.
02/11/2008 at 1:21 am Permalink
The thing to keep in mind, guys, is that Tazawa is probably most equivalent to an MLB 1st-round college pitcher. I don’t think he’ll get a major league deal from a team that is going to compete in 2009. A more realistic expectation is for a minor league deal with a big league spring training invite. He’d probably start off at AA and work his way up from there.
Remember that this is a guy who, at least since I’ve followed him, hasn’t had to face guys that could hit his best stuff on a regular basis. He’s a good prospect and the story is interesting, but he is still a prospect.
02/11/2008 at 6:40 am Permalink
i think the Red Sox will try to give Buccholz another shot. From what i hear he is doing well in his fall league, and if he can be the strong pitcher that most think of, then we won’t need to spend the money on brad penny. But Penny would be a good pick up, and I think bringing back Derek Lowe for 2 seasons wouldn’t hurt, as well as trying to extend a cheap offer to Jon Garland.
02/11/2008 at 9:00 am Permalink
Penny might cost in the 8 to 10 million range(I don’t think Boras is his agent). I think the Dodgers declined an option on him for 8.75 and given his health issues this past season I think we could nab him for about the same for maybe 3 years. It’s an inexpensive option when you consider what someone like Lowe might command which is believed to be about 16 mil per. I think Penny is quite a bit younger as well. I say #4 for him because where else would you put him? If our core comes back healthy and strong you can’t really bump him up. He’ll just give us a great rotation.
03/11/2008 at 9:50 am Permalink
As a phillies fan, if he wants anything over 300,000 we are out .we wouldn’t p[ay for international talent last year. winning the series means nothing to cheap own ers we have . That is why we have no real talent in the minors,
03/11/2008 at 9:09 pm Permalink
How much do you think he is gonna to receive as far as signing bonus and contract?
03/11/2008 at 9:39 pm Permalink
You are right re: Tazawa’s status. In the excitement of adding two potential top Japanese talents to a Red Sox team re-positioning itself for the WS following a series of injuries (Shilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wake, Aardsma), I mis-spoke and apologize. I was thinking of Kawakami, who should be ready out of Spring Training for the starting rotation in 2009.
I am surprised, Lou, that you see him in the Pen where, on reflection, he could be awesome. In this case, he might do what Gagne didn’t, and as part of a ‘lights out’ Oki, Masterson and Papelbon combo. Interesting.
IMO, the greater initial need is to fill the #4 slot without the inflated and lengthy contracts required by potential injuries CC, AJ, Ben, etc. So, Kawakami or Penny as #4? How special if Matsuzaka and Kawakami both won Ace status for a world series run. However, the Sox may need both Kawakami and Penny if they trade away Buchholz or Bowden for a top young catcher, which IMO isn’t worth it.
03/11/2008 at 11:55 pm Permalink
this is the david: I’d guess he’ll get about $3-4M deal for a minor league contract and major league camp invite. I’d equate him to a first round pick, but the difference is that he’s on the open market and the teams compete for him. Still, I don’t think the players will really break the bank because he is an unproven guy, and if they paid him more than an upper-first round pick the players union would probably go ballistic.
04/11/2008 at 7:05 am Permalink
Seattle should pass. We have enough team chemistry issues already.