The Phillies are showing interest in Hisanori Takahashi, reports ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin. Philadelphia declined J.C. Romero's option a few weeks ago, so they're in the market for a left-handed reliever.
The Mets were unable to work out a new contract with Takahashi despite numerous deadline extensions earlier this month, and they were contractually obligated to release him. The 35-year-old is reportedly seeking a three-year deal worth upwards of $15MM coming off his first season in MLB. In 122 innings with New York, he struck out 8.4 men per nine innings and walked 3.2, resulting in a 3.61 ERA. Takahashi made a dozen starts and 41 relief appearances, filling in as closer when Francisco Rodriguez was injured late in the season.
Tim Dierkes examined Takahashi's free agent stock in-depth back in September.
I’m 99% sure the Reds claimed Hisanori Takahashi off of waivers.
wake up guys, he’s been claimed by the Reds.
For real. I was wondering why it wasn’t on here. Every other site and blog has it.
He’s a free agent. You can’t claim a free agent on waivers. Lol
Wrong, here’s the rule:
A waiver is a permission granted to a Club that desires to assign or release one of its players. There are basically two types of waivers — waivers for the assignment of a player and waivers for the unconditional release of a player. In both cases, waivers are granted only after all the other Major League Clubs have been given an opportunity to claim the player and none has done so. With regard to assignment waivers, permission is granted for a specific period of time. With unconditional release waivers, once permission is granted the player is a free agent.
If the Reds claimed him, meaning he did not pass through all 29 teams, he did not become a FA
I explained what I meant below. I hit submit prematurely. Lol
gotcha
Thanks for posting that. It shows why I’m still wrong. Lmao
On unconditional release waivers, I believe the player can refuse a claim by another team. That’s probably why he wanted that in his contract, so he could become a FA in this case.
This is what I came across when I looked into it as well. Apparently, he can refuse an assignment to any team, which would make sense if he wanted to maximize earnings through free agency. Even then, I was under the impression that his contract with the Mets became void if they couldn’t work out a deal before the deadline. Wouldn’t that make him an unrestricted free agent?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Unless he’s under Mets control because of ML service time? I know with the Red Sox and Okajima a couple years ago, there was some confusion with his agent, because Okie thought he became a FA because his contract was up, but he was actually still under team control due to ML service time (I think). I don’t remember the exact details, but I wonder if this is similar?
Edit: I have no idea if this has anything to do with why he can become a FA, just throwing it out there.
We haven’t seen that report confirmed by anyone. The only place it’s listed is on Yahoo’s and CBS’ transactions logs. It’s not even listed on MLB’s site nor the Reds’ site, and it supposedly happened four days ago.
Mike, thats what I thought myself but I believe Reds exectutives confirmed it to those 4 Major websites including CBS, Baseball Reference, Yahoo, and NY Times.
I didn’t see anyone tweet it and you guys always have it on here but perpahs Marc Sheldon hasn’t heard anything because when he does, it’s on on MLB.com and the Reds 40-Man…John Fay hasn’t heard anything but I think he’s on vacation. maybe Sheldon just didn’t hear it although there are tons of Mets reporters who would have heard it. I don’t know.
John Fay is generally the last to know anything. Considering he’s the Reds beat writer, that doesn’t say much that’s good about the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Yeah thats what i’ve been seeing on a ton of mlb blogs and sites.
he can elect free agency.
MLBTR simply picked up on the story by ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin as linked to in the blog above. So, there’s definitely conflicting reports out there. You would think ESPN would have their act together, so I’m not sure what to believe at this point.
3 years 15 million? Anything close to that is an awful contract for him. Even if it works out well, 5 million a year for a situational lefty? I’ll take my chances on a rusty Scott Eyre, instead.
The ESPN blog actually states $4 Million to $5 Million per year and also may not be accurate. I’d wait and see what the details are first before dismissing the idea (assuming Takahashi can indeed elect free agency).
Sure, but anything north of 3 million a year would be an unwise investment in my opinion.
I’d probably go to $4M, but would be comfortable at around $3.5M per – perhaps with various incentives built in.
if he’s trying to market himself as a starter..4 mill is absolute maximum..if he’s marketing himself as a reliever/swingman..i dont see who would give him multiple years at over 2 or 3..if he gets 3 it should probably be on a one year with an option for a similar amount
I’m not sure Takahashi and his agent have a leg to stand on here. Since he does not have no trade protection (ie. he’s not 5 and 10) he does not have the ability to reject the claim and file as a FA, if I am reading the CBA rules correctly.
It’s been brought to my attention that because he was placed on waivers with the intention of giving him his unconditional release, that he can absolutely reject the claim and become a free agent if he wishes to (which I’m sure he will). To me, that makes perfect sense since Cincy’s claim wasn’t reported via the majority of the normal wire services and also due to the ESPN report tonight regarding the Phillies.
meh… I like Takahashi because of his versatility, but I wouldn’t sink big money in him. And I certainly wouldn’t go more than 2 years. I would rather have a more dominant shut down lefty life Feuntes or Downs. That said, Takahashi as a left handed long man is a pretty good signing if its closer to 2 years, 5 million (what they’re supposedly signing Contreras to).