Sanspo on Hisa Takahashi
If you find yourself in the minority of people who are more interested in where Hisanori Takahashi winds up than the Super Bowl, this one’s for you.
Sanspo has published a report saying that the Pirates have suddenly emerged as a destination for Takahashi. I’d read earlier that Takahashi prefers the west coast, but he’s also been saying all offseason that he wants a major league deal and wants to start. The Pirates don’t exactly have the strongest rotation in the world, so it’s feasible that they could have MLB starts to offer him this season. Bringing in Takahashi may work for the Pirates if he can eat up a few innings and buy them some time with some of their prospects, plus Aki Iwamura is around to ease his transition. But, you know, that sounds pretty stopgap-ish, and if you’re going to be a stopgap, why not be one in San Diego? Assuming the opportunity is available, of course.
Sanspo also runs down the latest status from Takahahi’s other suitors:
- The Giants made an offer, but never heard back
- The Dodgers are targeting other pitchers
- The Mets were moving towards a MLB contract, but couldn’t reach a compromise on money
- The Orioles were very interested but went in a different direction because Takahashi’s demands were too high
Finally, Sponichi says that Takahashi has traveled to Arizona, and was planning to throw for scouts today.
07/02/2010 at 8:33 pm Permalink
Looks like the Phillies are interested in a catcher named, Hiroya Yamamura, who went undrafted. [Link]
07/02/2010 at 9:52 pm Permalink
hmmm… let’s see what Draft reports says:
http://draftrepo.blog47.fc2.com/blog-entry-293.html
He threw out 75% of would-be basestealers over his college career, but his hitting tanked in 2009. 23 k’s in 87 at-bats after controlling the strikezone pretty well the previous two years.
08/02/2010 at 9:31 am Permalink
Saw this link on my Google homepage today. Should have known you were the source.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Slew-of-teams-after-Japanese-hurler-Takahashi?urn=mlb,218182
08/02/2010 at 9:34 am Permalink
This was already in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette they the Pirates aren’t a suitor.
I don’t know where you get that ‘stopgap’ remark but those apparently are over.
As far as your ‘not the strongest rotation’………
“Secondly, Takahashi reputedly prefers a starting role, and the Pirates aren’t about to let just anyone get in the way of their young starters, even the ones vying for the fifth and final job.”
http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/default.aspx
08/02/2010 at 10:09 am Permalink
I think it was pretty clear what I meant by stopgap: “Bringing in Takahashi may work for the Pirates if he can eat up a few innings and buy them some time with some of their prospects, plus Aki Iwamura is around to ease his transition.”
Takahashi is 35, and would likely not be around for the next good Pirates team. But if he can take some of the load off their younger players, he would have some value at the right price. Isn’t that why the Pirates signed DJ Carrasco and Octavio Dotel?
08/02/2010 at 8:25 pm Permalink
“Takahashi is 35, and would likely not be around for the next good Pirates team. ”
I’m not sure anyone alive now will be around for the next good Pirates team.
08/02/2010 at 9:46 pm Permalink
Zing! Take that, Bobby Bonilla!