Rumors for Japan NPB
Hisashi Iwakuma re-signs with Rakuten Golden Eagles
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In a Tweet by Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times, he says that Hisashi Iwakuma has re-signed with Rakuten for 300 million Yen (approximately $3.6198 USD) with a possibility for performance incentives.
On November 8, the Oakland Athletics won the exclusive rights to negotiate with Iwakuma by bidding approximately $19.1 million in a posting fee. However the sides could not come to an agreement regarding a contract. Despite the unfortunate fall out of the negotiations, the A’s have made it clear to Iwakuma, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, that they will have interest in him next year when he’s a free agent.
Iwakuma posted a 2.82 ERA over 201 innings this past season. That accomplishment marked Iwakuma’s fourth straight season with an ERA of 3.40 or lower.
Rusty Ryal sold to the Yomiuri Giants
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The Arizona Diamondbacks have sold Rusty Ryal to Japan’s Yomiuri Giants, according to Bailey Stephens of MLB.com. The deal was announced on Thursday,while the deal had been in the works for several weeks.
Ryal played for two seasons with Arizona. In 2010 he hit for .261 with 3 HR and 11 RBI’s in 222 plate appearances throughout 104 games.
Chan Ho Park to play in Japan in 2011?
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An unconfirmed report by the Yonhap News Agency states that the representatives of 37-year-old right-handed pitcher Chan Ho Parkhave announced that their client has joined the Orix Buffaloes in the Nippon Professional Baseball League for the 2011 season.
As recent as mid-November, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Park had mutual interest in reuniting for the upcoming season.
“We’ve expressed some interest and he has expressed some interest,” Pirates’ GM Neal Huntington said. “But again, it’s got to be the right fit for him, and it has to be the right fit for us. We’re working through what that might be or may not be.”
Park was claimed off of waivers by the Pirates in August. The New York Yankees were trying to trade Park before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, but ended up designating him for assignment on July 31.
According to their website, the Yonhap News Agency plays a central role in the Korean press by delivering news and information to its customers in various parts of the world, as well as to newspapers, broadcasting firms, government agencies, business organizations and Internet portals on a real-time basis.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Minnesota Twins close on three-year, $10MM deal
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According to a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Minnesota Twins and Tsuyoshi Nishioka are “very close” on a deal. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds the sides are working on a three-year deal plus an option year and the deal is in the neighborhood of $10 million.
Twins GM Bill Smith confirmed that Nishioka is in town and is taking a physical “today and tomorrow.” The negotiations between the sides are on-going, but not complete, according to John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
On Tuesday, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune, speculated that Nishioka was close to coming to the Minnesota area for his physical – a clear sign that the sides are close to a deal.
The Twins previously won the exclusive right in November to negotiate with Nishioka via a $5.3 million bid to his Chiba Lotte Japanese club. The sides have up until December 26 to have a deal in place otherwise Nishioka will return to his Japanese club for the 2011 season.
A physical by Nishioka is a good sign that the sides are getting close to an agreement. Neal adds that there have been no indications that a multi year deal will not get worked out.
Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka wants a three-year deal worth $12 million
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According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Tsuyoshi Nishioka is believed to be looking for about $12 million total over 3-years from the Twins. Heyman adds that both sides are optimistic about a deal getting done.
Sources close AOL FanHouse’s Ed Price said the Minnesota Twins have offered Tsuyoshi Nishioka a three-year, deal in the $9-10 million range.
The Twins won the right to negotiate with Nishioka via the posting system. The Twins have until the close to the end of December to negotiate a contract with the Japanese All Star infielder.
The Twins bid is believed to be roughly $5.3MM, and will be paid to Nishioka’s Japanese teaam – the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Nishioka will be represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council in the United States. Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
Athletics fail to reach deal with Hisashi Iwakuma
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to several news outlets, including MLB.com’s Jane Lee, the Oakland Athletics have announced that they have failed to reach a deal with Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma will return to the Rakuten Golden Eagles and the A’s will get their $19.1 million posting fee back.
“We would like to express our appreciation to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for the opportunity to negotiate with Mr. Iwakuma, and we regret that an agreement could not be reached by today’s deadline,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said in a statement. “In this instance, the player was in a unique situation, being only one year away from free agency, and we fully respect and understand his position.”
Despite the unfortunate fall out of the negotiations, the A’s have made it clear to Iwakuma, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, that they will have interest in him next year when he’s a free agent.
Hisashi Iwakuma Rumors: No movement
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The status of Hisashi Iwakuma is currently up in the air. He’s facing a 9pm PST deadline tonight. Here are the latest rumors:
– Sources close to The Mainichi Daily News say that Hisashi Iwakuma has decided to return to to the Rakuten Golden Eagles rather than agree to a deal with the Oakland Athletics. The sides have until 9pm PST this evening, December 6 to come to an agreement. Iwakuma appearas to have lost his motivation to play for the team after questioning its seriousness to sign him.
– Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle says that sides are still talking.
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustarted said that there’s no movement in the last day. “Its getting late,” notes an interested party.
Twins win the negotiating right for Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Star Tribunes’s Joe Christensen, the Twins have won the negotiating rights with Japenese All-Star infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Christensen later adds that both the team and Major League Baseball have confirmed that Chiba Lotte has accepted the bid.
The Twins will have the next 30 days to negotiate how many millions they want to spend with Nishioka.
A source estimated to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the Twins bid roughly $5.3MM. A source close to WEEI’s Rob Bradford says the Boston Red Sox bid was in the mid-$2 million range for Nishioka, but that Boston had true interest in the infielder.
Nishioka will be represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council in the United States. Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
Bobby Valentine says Nishioka could succeed in MLB
Posted by: | CommentsThe Chiba Lotte Marines have announced that it has accepted the high bid for All Star infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, but they won’t name the Major League Baseball team that amid the winning bid, according to the Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen.
The winning bidder will have the next 30 days negotiate how many millions they want to spend with Nishioka.
The teams hopes to make a wise investment, and if you were to ask one person if Nishioka could perform at a high level, he would tend to agree. Nishioka’s former manage, Bobby Valentine says that the infielder could succeed in Major League Baseball. Valentine managed Nishioka while he was with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
“I think in the right situation, if he stays healthy, he’ll be a very good player,” Valentine told the Japan Times (via Jason Coskrey) in a telephone interview. “He would be something there aren’t many of right now and that’s a switch-hitting leadoff hitter. There are not many guys who do that in the major leagues.”
Here area few excerpts from the interview:
“He’s now 26-years-old,” Valentine said. “I saw him the other day, he’s bigger, he’s growing into his body. Instead of just being a skinny young kid he’s becoming a man and he was healthy all last year.”
“I think he can play decent defense,” Valentine said. “Now I don’t know what park and what field he would be playing on and what kind of adjustments he would make. But in proper time he would be a good defensive player.”
“As far as moving to his left and his right, charging the ball and turning the double play, he can do all those things as well as some of the shortstops in the major leagues. Some of them are obviously more graceful and thinner than he is, but there aren’t 30 of them who are better than him.”
So far we’ve heard the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres have expressed interest in Nishioka. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman added that the Minnesota Twins are “very much in” on the infielder. It’s unclear if the Baltimore Orioles have made a bid or if they’re even interested.
Nishioka bidding winner expected to be revealed later tonight
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The winning bidder that will receive the rights to exclusively negotiate with Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka via the posting system will be revealed later this evening. Nishioka’s Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines have scheduled a Friday press conference to announce which Major League team has the winning bid, according to the Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen.
Yesterday, The Japan Times said that at least one Major League Club has made a bid ahead of the deadline to acquire the shortstop, but the team has not been made public.
So far we’ve heard the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres have expressed interest in Nishioka. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman added that the Minnesota Twins are “very much in” on the infielder. It’s unclear if the Baltimore Orioles have made a bid or if they’re even interested.
Nishioka has been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines and will be represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council in the United States. Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
