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Iwase To Stay In Japan?
Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker has several reports stating that Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase will decline free agency and stay with the team. Iwase may not have been able to top his $4.3MM salary with an MLB club.
Iwase, a 34 year-old southpaw, would've been the best reliever coming over from Japan. He posted a 2.94 ERA and 7.5 K/9 in 49 innings this year.
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A 2.94 ERA and 7.5 K/9 isn't really that spectacular, especially since Japanese professional baseball is not quite at the level of MLB.
Even though, depending on the contract, it could be a nice pickup for someone.
Posted by: melonis rex | October 27, 2008 at 08:25 AM
It is when you consider that was a down season for him. Entering the year, he had a career 1.97 ERA, his best selling point is probably his control though. He walked 25 batters from 2005-2007 COMBINED, excellent for a reliever.
Doesn't sound like he'll be moving to MLB though. It would be hard for him to top the 4 million he's apparently making in Japan.
Posted by: AdropOFvenom | October 27, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I could see some team offering him 1/5 or 2/8, but that salary difference probably isn't enough to leave your home nation, unless he just wanted to play in the majors.
He could be a very good pickup for someone, but how do you know if he's really any better than Juan Cruz?
Posted by: scribbletone | October 27, 2008 at 11:17 AM
I think the issue is that most teams would look to try him as a LOOGY or a LH Setup man, and pay him accordingly. I doubt Joe Beimel is going to get $4.3M next year, so I doubt most MLB teams are interested in paying Iwase that, especially combined with all the other things that come with Japanese contracts (massages, suites, plane tickets to Japan, translators, etc.)
"He could be a very good pickup for someone, but how do you know if he's really any better than Juan Cruz?"
Well, the big thing is that he is left-handed. Actually, he seems to profile as a Brian Fuentes-type, and Fuentes is probably going to get somewhere around $10 million a year.
"A 2.94 ERA and 7.5 K/9 isn't really that spectacular, especially since Japanese professional baseball is not quite at the level of MLB."
It is plenty spectacular, given that 1) Japanese parks are a bit smaller and 2) Japanese hitters focus on contact.
Posted by: AA | October 27, 2008 at 12:34 PM
"I could see some team offering him 1/5 or 2/8, but that salary difference probably isn't enough to leave your home nation, unless he just wanted to play in the majors."
That's the thing Scribbletone, I don't think 20% more then his current salary is enough to entice him to leave his home country.
Say a company in Japan wanted you to move out there, and work in Japan full time, you would want more then 20% more salary in order to do so, right?
If I was in his position, I would be asking for 6.5 per, otherwise I'd stay in Japan....and I don't think the market is there to accomdate him at that kind of price, as only closers see that kind of money in MLB, and it's kinda risky to pay someone who has never pitched in the MLB closer money.
Posted by: AdropOFvenom | October 27, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Thats basically what I was getting at, adropofvenom.
Posted by: scribbletone | October 27, 2008 at 02:34 PM
hes scared...
Posted by: clarknaddison | October 27, 2008 at 05:04 PM
I doubt it. Was that necessary?
Posted by: scribbletone | October 27, 2008 at 05:18 PM