Hiroki Kuroda To Stay In Japan?
Japanese free agent and ERA leader Hiroki Kuroda is leaning towards playing for the Hanshin Tigers in 2007. Kuroda was said to be on the Cubs’ wish list.
Should Kuroda join Hanshin, the likelihood of Kei Igawa being posted increases because Hanshin would have their ace. However, Kuroda could still be convinced to play in the U.S. and will take about a week to decide.
Kei Igawa Hopes To Play On West Coast
Word from Yahoo Japan (in Japanese) tonight is that southpaw pitcher Kei Igawa would like to join a West Coast team. That probably means the Dodgers or Mariners, who have hosted such Japanese stars as Ichiro, Kenji Johjima, and Takashi Saito.
Of course, Igawa is coming to the U.S. via the posting system and doesn’t have a say in his destination. However, his preference to play on the west coast may compel Ned Colletti or Bill Bavasi to bid higher and sign Igawa to a slightly cheaper contract.
So far the Braves, Mets, and Tigers have also been connected to Igawa. The smart money is on the Dodgers or Mariners with the Mets in a distant third. However, history may go out the window as 2007 brings the largest influx of Japanese talent to the Majors yet. More and more teams are looking overseas to fill their needs.
If the Dodgers are to re-sign Greg Maddux and the Mariners miss out on Matsuzaka, Igawa seems to be destined for Seattle.
Rosenthal On Matsuzaka, Igawa, Edmonds
Here’s a link to Ken Rosenthal’s latest.
Rosenthal confirms Yahoo Japan’s earlier story, which indicated that the Braves had interest in Japanese southpaw Kei Igawa. A Yahoo story had mentioned that Igawa’s posting would be contingent on Hanshin signing free agent Hiroki Kuroda, but Rosenthal states as fact that Igawa will be posted. In addition to Atlanta, we know that the Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, and Tigers have special interest in Igawa.
Rosenthal also officially adds the Tigers to the list of teams interested in Daisuke Matsuzaka. While we know every team has scouted him, the Cubs, Angels, Royals, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, Orioles, Dodgers, Mariners, and Padres have been mentionally specifically in print. Yes, I just named half of baseball.
Finally, Rosenthal indicates that Jim Edmonds‘s "postseason revivial" will make it more likely that the Cards exercise his $10MM option. Walt Jocketty isn’t that dumb, is he? That his decision could hinge on 15-17 postseason games is ludicrous.
Posting Possibility: Kei Igawa
Kei Igawa is a 27 year-old southpaw with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. He pitched 200 innings this year with a 3.11 ERA and 8.3 K/9, winning 13 games.
Igawa made a request for posting after 2005, but was denied. While Igawa hopes to be posted this winter, the Tigers’ owner seems opposed to the idea. There’s also the somewhat odd and perhaps related occurence of Igawa breaking down in tears on the mound after his final home start. If he’s not posted, Igawa will become a free agent after the 2009 season.
Reader Iwanaga Tak was kind enough to give me some info and translate this article for me. Apparently, there is a chance Igawa could be posted if Hanshin signs free agent hurler Hiroki Kuroda to replace him as their ace. American scouts haven’t shown much interest in the 31 year-old Kuroda, who is a free agent.
Speculation has Igawa’s posting fee expected to be around $10MM, a little less than Ichiro’s. If he is posted, he’d be a #3-4 type starter with a salary in the range of $3MM annually. Interested parties include the Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, Braves, and Tigers. Hanshin should make a decision about posting Igawa after the Japan Series, which starts next week.