Masahide Kobayashi Signs With Indians

UPDATE: The deal is done - Kobayashi gets $6MM guaranteed over 2008-09 and has a $3.25MM club option for 2010.  This seems like a fine Indians-esque bargain. 

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Indians are close to signing Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi.  The 33 year-old is taking his physical today.  The Braves and Mariners were also known to have interest in him.  It's been said that Kobayashi would prefer to close but it's not a dealbreaker.

Here's what Bob Bavasi of JapanBall told me about Kobayashi:

This closer was the number one draft pick by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1999.  He may be the best available reliever on the free agent market, though he has not made the sort of overtures about wanting to leave Japan as the other two.  During the recent playoffs in Japan, his manager, Bobby Valentine, noted that Kobayashi keeps "looking better every time out.”  True enough, and a reason I like him.

And here's what Aaron Shinsano and Jackson Broder of East Windup Chronicle said about him:

Lost seven games and ERA rose nearly a point in 2007, but that shouldn't deter teams from pursuing this 200+ save closer for Chiba Lotte. Throws from the stretch, and has that deceptive delivery that scouts seem to like these days. Has a great forkball that often tails in toward the batter. Not as good as Iwase or Koji Uehara, but might just be an upgrade over, say, The Farns.  Tak adds that he was dropped to the "minors" at the end of the season and many feel his velocity and control are slipping.

OK, Tim here again.  Just wanted to add that Rosenthal also reiterated that the Royals are close on Yasuhiko Yabuta.  Mark Gonzales had previously said five teams were still in the running for him.

Comments

[st1ckboy]

Why would the Indians want the hot dog eating champ?

[jatorres]

Dollar hot dog night promotions?

[04Forever]

OMG! the lawyer from The Usual Suspects, the guy that works for Kaiser Suze, he is going to play for the Indians?? Bizarre

[Jesse Spector]

What about Kaz Tadano, the old adult video star? He played for the Indians.

[bravesbeast]

that former adult star was korean, not japanese, an honest mistake by any means however

Wish the braves would have pursued this guy more, so we could have added more detph and closing options to our bullpen

[04Forever]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1720362

according to this article, not only was it him, but its was homosexual porno, in which he commits "homosexual acts" ouch, i bet he wish that skeleton stayed in the closet, then again, im sure he wished he stayed in the closet. ZING!!

[Flags Fly Forever]

Kazuhito Tadano was born in Tokyo, and appeared in 14 games for the Indians in 2004.

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430954

[AJ]

Jesse Spector is right. Tadano, the gay pornstar, was in fact born in Tokyo. And he did in fact play for the Indians in parts of '04 and '05. Honest mistake by any means, however.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/T/Kazuhito-Tadano.shtml

[04Forever]

geee, you know what, after reading that article i feel really bad for that kid. that mustve sucked to have to go through

[Flags Fly Forever]

However, Tim is right about Kobayashi being the first "Japanese professional ballplayer," as Tadano didn't play in NPB.

[04Forever]

the reason he didnt play majors in japan was because of the gay thing. in my article, it says "shunned by Japanese teams", now that has to suck

[TJ Sox Fan]

Tadano has said he did the porn video because he needed money, he has said numerous times that he's not gay.

I have seen the video, trust me he's gay :D

[SierraM]

Damnit! He was the guy I wanted the most.

It's a good sign by the Indians and Kobayashi picked a very good team to sign with.

The Indians gave my Red Sox the most trouble in the playoffs and this signing only makes them better.

Hopefully Yabuta decides to ditch the Royals or Theo goes after Fukumori. Okajima needs more help now that Timlin is a free agent.

[themfightnwords]

"that mustve sucked to have to go through"

Is that a pun?

[Bornin85]

Dang, SierraM. You've really got something against the Royals signing Yabuta. And not even in the "I want him for my team" sense, just, some moral reason I guess? Good players shouldn't go to KC?

[tolo316]

The Indians signed that guy from the eating competitions???

[SierraM]

I just felt that the Yabuta to Royals scenario was a little fishy to begin with. Okajima wasn't thought of as a very good relief pitcher in Japan but was able to get signed by the Red Sox. Yabuta was part of the team that represented Japan in the World baseball classic and he goes to the Royals? Does not compute.

At least I can understand it if these guys go to other title contenders or to places in the west coast with big Japanese populations. Other than the Royals hiring Trey Hillman from Japan (I still wouldn't understand it if this was the reason he went to the Royals), I doubt the Royals have much to offer Yabuta other than tons of $$$ (which he can probably get from other teams).

Another reason is I want Okajima to have some help next season. I won't like watching Francona wear out Okajima again next season because he has no other viable options.

Other than Mike Timlin, Theo hasn't really had much luck picking out relief guys in free agency or trades. Japanese relief pitching has been a cheap and effective option for many teams, including Boston. I want Theo to try signing another one of the few good relief pitchers that have come out.

If Yabuta does well with the Royals, I can definitely see them shopping him in the trading deadline for prospects to help rebuild their organization. Theo can just sign him now while we have openings in the position and we won't have to give up anything for him.

[darkstar1661]

alright, I like this a lot!

[TrueCubsFan]

Great signing, I'm amazed by how little they Indians signed him for. There are so many teams who needed bullpen help.

[darkstar1661]

But its the Indians ~ nothing we are able to do surprises me anymore...

[johnflaherty]

Wow, I love the first two posts because it's exactly what I thought of when I saw this.