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NPB’s Seibu Lions Sign Dietrich Enns

By Steve Adams | November 21, 2021 at 8:25pm CDT

TODAY: Enns is heading to Japan to sign with the Seibu Lions, the team announced.

NOVEMBER 17: The Rays are in the process of finalizing an agreement to send left-hander Dietrich Enns to a team either in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization or Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Enns will be placed on release waivers today and, upon clearing Friday, will be free to sign with his new club.

Moves such as this one generally benefit all parties and are, of course, made with full consent from the player in question. Whichever team held interest in Enns would first contact the Rays, who’d then gauge the player’s interest in the opportunity before proceeding to negotiate a release agreement. Tampa Bay will likely receive some financial compensation for releasing Enns, while the pitcher himself will receive a larger salary in NPB or the KBO than he’d have earned as a fringe big leaguer in 2022 — if he’d even stuck on the Rays’ 40-man roster.

Enns, 30, was quite effective in 22 1/3 frames for the Rays this past season, pitching to a 2.82 ERA with an impressive 28.4% strikeout rate against a strong 6.8% walk rate. That marked the first big league action for Enns since a brief four-inning cup of coffee with the 2017 Twins, however, and the lefty’s minor league track record generally isn’t as strong as this past season’s results. Enns did post a 2.64 ERA in 71 2/3 Triple-A frames, but he carries a career 4.26 ERA with pedestrian strikeout and walk rates in nearly 400 innings at that level.

The benefit to the arrangement for Enns could be twofold. In addition to securing a guaranteed salary of some note for the first time in an 11-year professional career, he’ll also set himself up for the opportunity to potentially return to Major League Baseball outside the constructs of the arbitration system.

Had Enns remained with the Rays, he’d have needed another three years on the roster before qualifying for arbitration eligibility as a 33-year-old (at least, as the arbitration system currently stands). However, by going to NPB, the KBO or the CPBL, Enns could impress for only a season or two and then return on a guaranteed Major League deal. Chris Flexen, Merrill Kelly, Josh Lindblom and Miles Mikolas are among the recent players to go this route, securing considerable salaries overseas before returning to the big leagues on guaranteed, multi-year contracts that typically allow them to become free agents upon completion (rather than remain under control via arbitration). It’s not a foolproof gambit, of course, but even if Enns struggles in his new environs he’d still likely come away with more than he’d have earned with a big league club in 2022.

With the removal of Enns, the Rays’ 40-man roster will have three open spots. Topkin suggests that the Rays may look to open another spot or two prior to Friday’s Rule 5 protection deadline.

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Nippon Professional Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Transactions Dietrich Enns

Looking For A Match In A Kevin Kiermaier Trade
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Yankees “Monitoring” Rather Than Pursuing Top Free Agent Shortstops?
View Comments (17)
Post a Comment

17 Comments

  1. CubsWin108

    4 years ago

    trust in cash

    1
    Reply
    • Deleted_User

      4 years ago

      mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/trevor-story-to-reject-…

      So much for your THEORY about Trevor Story accepting the qualifying offer LOL!

      Reply
      • Ron Tingley

        4 years ago

        Oh burn!

        Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    I always liked this guy as a prospect. think he can still be a good player.

    Reply
  3. Ducey

    4 years ago

    This is the enns.

    Reply
    • Sherm623

      4 years ago

      It justifies the means

      2
      Reply
  4. Dumpster Divin Theo

    4 years ago

    Only Time Will Tell

    Reply
  5. albert-3

    4 years ago

    Good he f’ ed in my fanasty

    Reply
    • slimmycito

      4 years ago

      Why did you have Dietrich Enns in your fantasy lol.

      1
      Reply
      • Assdribble_Cabrera

        4 years ago

        Maybe he’s not talking about baseball.

        1
        Reply
    • slimmycito

      4 years ago

      Let me join your league

      Reply
      • Ron Tingley

        4 years ago

        Come Enns to my fantasy.

        Reply
  6. Peart of the game

    4 years ago

    Most likely he will have signed with an NPB team for 2022 as he’s been striking everyone out since signing with that independent league team in 2020.

    Reply
    • burly

      4 years ago

      Yeah, my guess is that an NPB will sign him to pitch out of the bullpen.

      1
      Reply
  7. Dumpster Divin Theo

    4 years ago

    Heat of the Moment

    Reply
  8. DarkSide830

    4 years ago

    good get

    Reply
  9. nentwigs

    4 years ago

    Dietrich is already in route.
    The ENNS is near !!

    Reply

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