1:08pm: Issues arose during Iwakuma’s physical with the Dodgers, Bill Plunkett of the OC Register tweets, but the team has not closed the door to signing him. Talks are still ongoing between the two sides.
11:04am: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter) hears that the Dodgers are not out on Iwakuma. He surmises that they could be reworking the contract, however.
10:50am: The Dodgers are backing out on their agreement with pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma due to concerns over his physical, according to a Japanese-language report from the Jiji Press (translation via Kazuto Yamazaki on Twitter). There’s no official word yet from the team regarding Iwakuma’s deal, but it should be noted that the two sides reached agreement all the way back on December 6th and a hiccup with the physical would explain the delay in making an announcement.
Iwakuma posted a 3.54 ERA in 20 starts for the Mariners last season, including a no-hitter. He missed more than two months with a lat strain, however, and turns 35 in April. He also dealt with some shoulder issues. It’s not immediately clear what red flag(s) popped up on the veteran’s physical, however. The Dodgers and Iwakuma shook hands on a three-year, $45MM contract prior to the Winter Meetings. At the time, that seemed like a fair price for the Japanese hurler given the strength of the pitching market. In fact, at the outset of the offseason, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes predicted that exact contract for him.
Despite injury troubles, Iwakuma ended up turning in a typically excellent campaign for the Mariners in 2015. Over 129 2/3 innings, he worked to a 3.54 ERA with 7.7 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9. Remarkably enough, that’s the worst single-season earned run average he has compiled over a single campaign. He’s been remarkably good since coming to Seattle from Japan before the 2012 season. In 653 2/3 total MLB frames, Iwakuma has allowed just 3.17 earned runs per regulation game.
If the Dodgers don’t finalize their deal with Iwakuma, they could turn to fellow free agent starter Mike Leake, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. Leake is talking with the Nationals and Astros, but his preference is to pitch out west. Leake has talked to teams about at least a five-year deal for about $75MM (link). Scott Kazmir is also a consideration for Los Angeles, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports tweets.
This has been a nightmare of an offseason for the Dodgers.
The hits just keep on coming. This FO is driving the Dodgers into oblivion.
You gonna blame the front office for Chapman getting in gun trouble at home? Iwakuma having an ailment?
I’d rather pat them on the back for not saddling themselves with soon-to-be-albatross contracts.
Remember, this team is being built to compete permanently – not in a particular window. That doesn’t get the “we want to win the offseason” fans hard, however.
So you are not going to blame them for the lack of due diligence? The Red Sox seemed to know about Chapman’s friendly fire incedent and avoided him. They were only dealing with the often injured Iwakuma because they passed on everybody better. So what’s Plan C and why are we even talking about it?
Lack of due diligence? They were working on a deal and found out the gory details – when did you expect them to know, right as they picked up the phone for the first time? They did their diligence and got out of it.
It’s not like they traded for him and THEN found out – they nixed the deal and didn’t lose anything. Heck, the guys possibly going to Cincy in the deal didn’t even make it to the public.
What an absolutely absurd world we live in if the Dodgers are being reprimanded for not making a deal for a guy with legal issues – because they discovered the legal issues.
The Red Sox inquired, found out his troubles, and backed out. The Dodgers inquired, found out his troubles, and backed out. But the Dodgers are the ones not doing due diligence and is wearing the criticism of a self-loathing fan.
Regarding Plan C? Eh, yeah, half a point. But don’t act shocked that they weren’t shelling out 150-220 million for contracts knowing they would become albatrosses – you know exactly what they’ve said publicly since taking over the front office.
This Dodger fan isn’t self loathing, it’s the current FO and their blunders that he loathes. So get that straight from the start.
Either the Dodgers did not know about Chapman’s troubles, or they did, but decided to pursue the trade anyway. It was probably the former as they seem to have had a trade in place when Yahoo Sports broke the domestic violence story. So they either knew or did not know. You tell me which scenario sounds more like competence to you, because neither one does to me. Face it, the Red Sox were way ahead of the Dodgers. They got what they needed, and the Dodgers ended up with egg on their faces. Rinse and repeat.
As for albatross contracts, you have no less than the team’s pitching coach to argue with on that point. So you tell me why he’s so wrong and we’ll have something to discuss. Otherwise it looks like denial of reality. Sorry but I’m just not into that.
Yes, Is someone else to blame?
You seem to have a real hard on for this FO, you need to take a chill pill and realize that there is still half an offseason more to subtract and add from the team.
Try responding to the argument. Thanks.
The random post embargo makes discussion difficult but I guess my question to you is: how many bad trades and blown signings will it take for you to lose faith in this front office?
it’s not quite random – you can’t say i-w-a-k-u-m-a for some reason
If you think the Dodgers front office is responsible for Aroldis Chapman putting bullets through walls, then we may not as well talk any further.
However, I don’t think you’re that silly.
I do believe, however, that you’re looking at things through tunnel vision. Bad trades and blown signings? I’m seeing a huge reduction in dead weight, assets acquired with positive value – it’s a miracle that they managed to turn Matt Kemp into Yasmani Grandal. Now, the Padres can’t even give Matt Kemp away.
The farm hasn’t looked this good in years.
Every Dodgers fan wants results – we need results, it’s been too long. We can share that pain.
But there are some great things going on, and some fans need to stop throwing their toys when their diaper needs changing.
The post making the full point is no longer embargoed so you can respond to it, if you can.
Well the Orioles got blamed for Balfour failing his physical so it is only fair that the Dodgers get blamed for this.
So now what?
Who knows, but it probably involves prayer.
Ok, Dipoto, get back into the mix for Kuma! Send Paxton to Miami via the LAD to get VanSlyke to fill our RH 1B role.
You must really like Van Slyke if you are willing to trade Paxton for a part time OF, and then want to move him to 1B. I’m pretty sure the Dodgers would do that trade without Miami being needed.
Well he actually a of/1st baseman. So moving him to 1st wouldn’t be so hard
And now Jerry may end up swooping in and signing him for a two year deal
Lets hope so.
Nest post: “Dodger post 20 Million for Maeda”
Oh they’ll sign Maeda. I assume it’s all but a done deal, as he has said he wants to be in LA and I don’t think the Angels are interested. Whether he’s any good is another question.
Have they posted the 20 Million yet? I havnt heard of any team posting yet. Unless its top secret.
I thought I heard he preferred the west coast, and the Dodgers were appealing to him because of Iwakuma due to their friendship. He may not feel the same way about them now with Iwakuma no longer signed.
Hey if Iwakuma would consider an incentive laden 1 year deal for 20 million.
I know the Orioles could use him.
He’d be perfect a veteran with mad skills.
I know I would love it.
I mean he pitched 6 full or better in September/October
So yeah count me in despite this alleged failure.
Can these guys do anything right? I’m beginning to have conspiranoid thought about the front office, like maybe they’re Giants plants sent into sabotage the Dodgers.
no, that was colletti
I didn’t realize Maeda has said that he wants to be in LA. Well…sucks for the other teams. The rich get richer.
He’s said to prefer the Dodgers.
I have only heard he prefers the west coast and the Dodgers were especially appealing to him because of Iwakuma. LA rescinding their offer to his friend isn’t going to help the Dodgers pursuit of Maeda.
Friendship?
Doesn’t matter at all.
He’s going to the place that gives him the best offer.
Likely the Dodgers since they’re the ones with the most money.
How very naive. Without Cano selling Cruz on the M’s (due to their friendship) he would of signed elsewhere. Dodgers offered a 3rd year, M’s were smart not to.
What an offseason so far. Are they sure that 3-team trade is official?
Is the whine and cheese crowd saying they wish the Chapman and Iwakuma deals went through? The deal with Iwakuma was “pending a physical.” Well they did the physical, found something they didn’t like and are now seeing if they can renegotiate a better deal due to the risk. If not, they can say bye-bye and move on.
The Dodgers have many options and plenty of time to work good deals for good players, most likely by trade. Seems a whole lot better and smarter than signing $200 million contracts for 30+ year-old pitchers on the downside of their careers..
Watch and learn.
Already made these points, but for the cheap seats here they are again: Somehow the Red Sox avoided the Chapman debacle completely. Word is they found out about his little problem before negotiating a trade with the Reds and decided to deal for somebody else. The Dodgers walked right into it. The only reason they were dealing with somebody who could fail a physical is they let the better options go. Calling Grienke on the downside of his career flies not only in face of the evidence, but the opinions of the person who would know best. BTW, is that person still a Dodger? We still don’t know.
As for the “many options” that remain, I wish someone who makes this argument would be specific so we can discuss the merits, rather than vague, so we can only imagine they know something nobody else does.
this site is boring since they killed comment votes. i think i’m just going to stop bothering
Its like a nightmare it keeps getting worse for the Dodgers. As a Cub fan and seeing the Dodgers in person when I’m in LA I do feel sorry for them, it like just go to sleep and wake me up when the season is over. Not to put bad luck on them, but knowing the luck they have had this Winter, watch Ker get hurt this summer, that about would top it…Good luck this season LA…