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Tazawa Headed To MLB
As expected, amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa has decided to forego Japanese baseball and sign with an MLB team. The Braves, Tigers, Red Sox, Pirates, Mets, and Yankees are thought to be in on him. Patrick Newman has a slew of links and videos on Tazawa here.
I am curious what NPB fans think of this development.
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Atlanta Braves
| Boston Red Sox
| Detroit Tigers
| Junichi Tazawa
| New York Yankees
| Pittsburgh Pirates
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go get him mets...
Posted by: SkiBolton | September 11, 2008 at 12:10 PM
The Sox will def. sign him
Posted by: Soxfan017 | September 11, 2008 at 12:34 PM
"go get him mets..."
Yes. He can join the Japanese Met Greats like Kaz Matsui and Shinjo.
Posted by: icedrake523 | September 11, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Wow we have no chance here 4 big market teams and the Pirates I don't like our odds.
Posted by: BucSox | September 11, 2008 at 01:18 PM
kaz and shinjo were both expected to be stars in the majors right away...I would guess this kid starts in class A or double A and isn't even on the 40 man roster. What can it hurt to have more good arms in the minors...
Besides icedrake, does the fact that generation k was a bust mean we shouldn't draft pitchers? You can't give up on something because you've failed before. They just need to do a better job of scouting.
Posted by: SkiBolton | September 11, 2008 at 01:27 PM
i think the two ny teams will throw the most money at him, but the bosox will get him because i imagine he would like to be teamates with dice k and be on a team buit to be competive for years.
Posted by: shaneg | September 11, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Does he have to go through the posting process?
Posted by: nyyfan | September 11, 2008 at 02:08 PM
i had the same question... but i would imagine there isnt a posting process, because he doesnt have a contract with any current japanese professional team.
like a true japanese free agent in the same way any team can sign a player from the dominican republic, i suppose.
i wonder if this is why the Yankees sent Stick Michael over to Japan...
Posted by: TurnTwo | September 11, 2008 at 02:11 PM
"Wow we have no chance here 4 big market teams and the Pirates I don't like our odds"
honestly, i wouldnt say that the pirates are out of the running for this kid. this isnt the same organization of the past. the pirates see now that it takes an increased interest in the foreign market to become competitive.
do i think the buccos will sign him, no. but i would not count them out just because of their past.
Posted by: buccobrigade | September 11, 2008 at 02:14 PM
I wasn't sayin that because of te management I was saying we don't have the money.
Posted by: BucSox | September 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Hey Pirate fans you have 1 large advantage. If he really thinks he is good and almost MLB ready it is a lot shorter trek to the big leagues with you.
Posted by: daveinexile | September 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM
BucSox
yea i know. i semi-agree. we have the money, we just cant afford to throw it around like the sox or yanks.
Posted by: buccobrigade | September 11, 2008 at 03:04 PM
The Red Sox have a great record with Japanese pitchers.
The Yankees, not so much.
I doubt the Yankees are actually players in this.
Posted by: SierraM | September 11, 2008 at 10:36 PM
No, he does not have to go through the posting system. He can sign directly with any team. But MLB and NPB have a "gentlemen's agreement" about going after prospects/amateur players in each others country.
By the way, Shinjo was never expected to be a "star", he was an above average player in Japan at the time, but really nothing more than that. (very popular though)
Posted by: Tak | September 11, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I was interested to see the scouting report on Tazawa in this ESPN article: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3583152
The fastball is usually the main pitch for any arsenal unless you're a knuckleballer. Scouts are saying it's not that fast and needs work on the control. The speed isn't an issue, especially if he can follow it up with a dominate change up, but the lack of control would be a huge issue.
Admittedly the kid is only 22, I'm guessing his level would be equivalent of any top college prospect (Anyone who has an actual scouting report, feel free to correct me). If he gets a major league deal I'll be shocked. Actually I'll be shocked if he gets anything more than a 3M signing bonus... even that seems a little excessive.
Also, ESPN brought up the point NPB teams may draft the kid anyway. There'd be a fairly sticky situation if that does happen. At the very least a new agreement with the MLB would have to be created, much like with Nomo.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 12, 2008 at 09:38 AM