Player Acquisitions: Aikawa, Fernandez

» 15 January 2009 » In npb »

  • Orix signed Jose Fernandez to a one-year, 100m yen ($1.1m) deal with performance bonuses. This gives the Buffaloes four import batters — Fernandez, LaRocca, Alex Cabrera and Tuffy Rhodes — and since Rhodes no longer counts against the foreign player limit they can use them all in the lineup at the same time. Assuming, of course, they’re all healthy and three of them can play in the field. Fernandez is joining his fourth NPB team, which may be a record for foreign playeres. I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head that’s been with more than three.
  • Catcher Ryoji Aikawa has given up on getting an MLB contract and will begin negotiating with Yakult. Yakult looks like Aikawa’s only option at this point, which is good as they’ve wanted him all along.

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  1. Patrick
    Alex
    15/01/2009 at 1:44 pm Permalink

    Why isn’t Tuffy Rhodes counting as a foreign player? Thank you.

  2. Patrick
    Patrick
    15/01/2009 at 1:57 pm Permalink

    There’s a rule that foreign players no longer count against the limit once they have reached a certain level of service time — I believe it’s 8 years now. Rhodes has surpassed the requirement with his 12 years of NPB service time.