Yokohama Considering Japanese Major Leaguers
The Yokohama BayStars have routinely had the worst pitching staff in Japan the last few years, and word from Sponichi has it that they’ll be looking to re-import some help from the States this off-season. Said an unnamed member of the ‘Hama front office: “we’re two or three starters short, and getting a pitcher who can close is a point to improve on. We’re seeing if we can use any of the Japanese pitchers who are playing in America.” Ironically, this is the team that wouldn’t take Satoru Komiyama back after he returned from the Mets.
Sponichi mentions Tomo Ohka, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Masahide Kobayashi as guys the BayStars could look at. Ohka spent time with Yokohama early in his career, but requested and was granted his release to pursue a shot at the Majors. Two other names I’ll throw out are Kei Igawa, who would have to take a pay cut to return to Japan (among other things, see comments), and Takashi Saito, who is much more of a wildcard — he’d need to be non-tendered, and he’s also performed much better in the States than he did in Japan.
03/09/2009 at 11:45 pm Permalink
Kei Igawa, who would have to take a pay cut to return to Japan
How would you go around the Yankees’ rights to him?
04/09/2009 at 12:19 am Permalink
iirc, he has an opt-out after three years if he’s not in the bigs. I can’t find where I read that though; I could be thinking of someone else. In any event, I’m sure the Yankees would exchange their rights to him for a token amount.
04/09/2009 at 12:30 am Permalink
According to Cot’s, there is no such things as opt-out in his contract. He is owed 2010:$4M, 2011:$4M. Exactly how could Yokohama get around this? I mean, I’m sure you have heard many times how Igawa is virtually impossible to move. What am I missing?
In other news, Sadowski was DFAed.
04/09/2009 at 12:42 am Permalink
I guess I’m thinking of something else. I would like to figure it out though. I still don’t think that means a move back to Japan is impossible; the Mariners worked out a deal with Sasaki a few years ago to let him play in Japan before his MLB contract expired.
Sadowski had a couple good games for the Giants right after he was called up. Pretty average stuff though.
04/09/2009 at 12:52 am Permalink
Sasaki a few years ago to let him play in Japan before his MLB contract expired.
Yes, he had to ask for a special permission from the Players’ Association for his family matter. But I think Igawa’s case would just give a convenient reason to void a contract, something the Association would refuse. It would also jeopardize the posting system, I think.
04/09/2009 at 1:03 am Permalink
Yeah, Sasaki had that divorce thing that I honestly didn’t follow too closely. Of course, the Yanks could also just eat the $8m he’ll have left on his deal for 2010-11.
04/09/2009 at 1:17 am Permalink
Yanks could also just eat the $8m he’ll have left on his deal for 2010-11.
Yup, nothing new. Just so many things at stake for getting Igawa out of the contract.
04/09/2009 at 1:20 am Permalink
Yeah. I was hoping we’d see him get another shot with the Yanks this year, especially since they’ve had guys like Brett Tomko and Russ Ortiz around. But it seems like he’s been slumping a bit in AAA after getting off to a decent start — this observation is purely on numbers, I haven’t actually seen him this year except once in spring training on TV.
04/09/2009 at 1:29 am Permalink
Yeah. I was hoping we’d see him get another shot with the Yanks this year
Yeah, I understand where you are coming from. Have you checked out the Weekly Igawa-kun?
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/baseball/mlb/column/comic/
They had to joke about it.
04/09/2009 at 1:48 am Permalink
heh. Dave Eiland said last month that they were looking at bringing him up, but obviously it never happened.
04/09/2009 at 2:20 am Permalink
Speaking fo Sadowaki (not really related, heh), I think it’s safe to say that Tanner Scheppers’ audition turned out to be a bluff.
http://www.npbtracker.com/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-players/
Google search shows nothing. Do you have more on this?
04/09/2009 at 4:28 am Permalink
Igawa is not on the 40 men roster so bringing him up is a bit difficult as they can’t drop him off the 40 men without having to go through waivers (tough he might pass easily).
Heard that too that he can file for free agency if he’s not on the 40 men at the end of the year. But given that he would give up 8 mio $ I don’t see that happening unless there’s a decent offer from Japan.
Also wouldn’t the Baystars have to deal with the Hanshin Tigers, too?
04/09/2009 at 7:45 am Permalink
Jimmy, you’re right. Hanshin still owns Igawa’s NPB rights. So this admittedly far-fetched 1:00 am musing looks just about impossible at this point.
I haven’t heard anything about Scheppers trying out for NPB since the idea broke, in either the American or Japanese press.
05/09/2009 at 7:00 am Permalink
Of course Saitoh has performed better in the States than in Japan. He was one of those Yokohama pitchers!
05/09/2009 at 8:06 am Permalink
Ditto for Ohka 🙂