Rumors for Posting fee
Talks between Athletics and Iwakuma may be ongoing
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It doesn’t look like the talks between the Oakland Athletics and Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma are over. According to MLB.com’s Jane Lee, negotiations may still be ongoing, and neither has shut the door on an agreement.
Earlier this week, it was believed that the right-hander was about to wrap up his talks and return to his Japanese team, Rakuten, when the A’s refused to give him a Barry-Zito-like deal of $18 million per year. However, Iwakuma’s agent cleared up the confusion in a series of tweets that Iwakuma wanted far less (four-years worth $15.25 million).
The sides have until December 7th to finalize a deal, otherwise Iwakuma will return to Rakuten. Iwakuma will be a free agent next winter, so he’ll be free to shop himself around without a posting fee.
Boston Red Sox interested in Tsuyoshi Nishioka
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There’s a 5pm EST deadline to place a bid for Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox are one of many teams interested in the gold glove infielder.
Last week, this was what was reported from Sports Hiochi (via NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman):
– The Orioles will bid on Nishioka. (Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles are undecided)
– The Mariners and Padres are taking a serious look at bidding. Hochi makes it sound like they will both bid.
– The Giants are not going to bid. (Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports does not expect the Giants to bid)
– The Diamondbacks find the budget required for posting problematic.
– There are at least some who think Nishioka can stick at shortstop.
Nishioka has been posted by 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.
Giants not expected to bid for Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to sources close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the San Francisco Giants are not expected to bid on infielder Tsuyoshi Nioshioka before today’s 5pm EST deadline.
The Giants are in need of help at third base and shortstop. The team has doubts over Pablo Sandoval and Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria are free agents. Morosi says the Giants could re-sign Uribe or make trade to acquire Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop Jason Bartlett.
Hisashi Iwakuma’s agent clears up situation via Twitter
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Hisashi Iwakuma’s agent, Don Nomura, is clarifying the negotiation situation between his client and the Oakland Athletics via Twitter.
Yesterday, sources close to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said that the A’s and Iwakuma had broken off talks and Iwakuma had been looking for a Barry Zito-type deal of $18 million per year.
In a series of tweets, Nomura says the A’s offer was for four-years for $15.25 million (an average of $3.81 million per season). With the $19.1 million posting fee, the cost for Iwakuma would be around $8.5 million. This eventually spiraled out of control and likely led the public to believe that Hisashi was looking for Zito-type money.
The posting fee would go straight to Rakuten, so that number had no impact for Iwakuma. It eventually came down to a “take it or leave it” situations with the A’s threatening to send out a press release that the negotiations had ended.
Nomura says the door isn’t shutting the door and he’ll be happy to continue to negotiate until December 8th – the last day the A’s and Iwakuma can work out a deal per the posting system. He told the Slusser in an email, “I don’t know if the talks are dead,” Nomura wrote. “I am assuming it’s over, however I am open for discussion until 11: 59 p.m. Dec 7.”
Tsuyoshi Nishioka could impact trade market for Jason Bartlett
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Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka’s posting period is set to expire on Tuesday at 5 pm EST. Clubs are required to submit bids to the Chiba Lotte Marines to obtain the exclusive negotiating rights for Nishioka.
FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says that if Nishioka agrees to come to the United States, it could impact the trade market for Jason Bartlett.
Bartlett has been drawing interest from teams in need of an experienced shortstop such as the Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Bartlett’s current team, the Tampa Bay Rays, could wait until Tuesday’s announcement before pursuing a deal with one of these clubs.
The 31-year-old Bartlett will likely command $5 – $5.5 million through salary arbitration.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka Rumors: Several teams may bid on Japanese infielder
Posted by: | CommentsHere are the latest rumors for Tsuyoshi Nishioka from Sports Hochi (via NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman):
– The Orioles will bid on Nishioka.
– The Mariners and Padres are taking a serious look at bidding. Hochi makes it sound like they will both bid.
– The Giants are not going to bid.
– The Diamondbacks find the budget required for posting problematic.
– There are at least some who think Nishioka can stick at shortstop.
Nishioka has been posted by 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.
Here are a few new Nishioka rumors from Friday:
– WEEI’s Rob Bradford says the Boston Red Sox are “undecided” on whether they should submit a bid for Nishioka.
– MLB.com’s Corey Brock says the San Diego Padres have no interest at all in Nishioka, or at least not the money it would require to bid/sign him.
– The Baltimore Orioles’ Jeff Zrebiec says the Baltimore Orioles have not decided whether they will bid or not on Nishioka.
Akinori Iwamura to play in Japan in 2011
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On Saturday, November 13, it was reported that infielder Akinori Iwamura will return to Japan for the 2011 season. According to Sanspo (via NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman), Rakuten has a basic agreement with Iwamura.
Newman adds that the deal is two-years, 400 million yen ($4.8 million USD) as reported by Sanspo while Sports Hochi says the deal includes incentives and an option year that could make it three-years, 1 billion yen ($12 million USD).
Iwamura spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Oakland Athletics in 2010.
In three years in the Major Leagues, the 31-year-old Iwamura hit a career .267/.345/.375 in 408 games for the Pirates, A’s and Tampa Bay Rays.
Chiba Lotte Marines to post Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to multiple reports (via NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman), the Chiba Lotte Marines will post Tsuyoshi Nishioka and will have a resolution by November 16 (JST).
FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says that Chiba will officially announce the posting of Nishioka. He will be represented by Beverly Hills Sports Council in the United States.
Nishioka has been drawing interest from West Coast teams, including the San Francisco Giants and Los Agneles Dodgers with the Dodgers his preferred destination.
Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
“He is a good player, he is a talented kid,” said ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, who managed Nishioka in Japan. “If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick. He runs faster than a lot of people. He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt. He is still developing physically and mentally. And this year, he stayed healthy all year. He has style issues, positive and negative: he likes to be noticed. How he develops will depend on what team signs him.”
The infielder’s posting fee could exceed $4 million.
Giants and Dodgers have interest in INF Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Posted by: | CommentsAOL FanHouse’s Tom Krasovic Tweets that Chiba Lotte Marines’ infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka is drawing interest from the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Earlier this week, Nishioka made it known that he would like to play for a West Coast team with the Dodgers his preferred destination.
Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
“He is a good player, he is a talented kid,” said ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, who managed Nishioka in Japan. “If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick. He runs faster than a lot of people. He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt. He is still developing physically and mentally. And this year, he stayed healthy all year. He has style issues, positive and negative: he likes to be noticed. How he develops will depend on what team signs him.”
The infielder is expected to be posted soon and his fee could exceed $4 million.
The Dodgers are Tsuyoshi Nishioka preferred team
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Japan Times’ Jason Coskrey, Tsuyoshi Nishioka said, “I know it may seem selfish but I’ve asked them to allow me to realize my dream.”
Nishioka will likely be posted some time this week by the Chiba Lotte Marines and when he is, he hopes the Dodgers will post the highest fee. Though the Dodgers are his first choice, LA Times’ Dylan Hernandez adds that Nishioka would also play for any other West Coast team (San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks).
Nishioka who can play both shortstop and 2nd base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
The Dodgers are in need of a second baseman as many in the industry believe that Ryan Theriot is a non-tender candidate. The team is also in need of a solid bat. Nishioka may not have a lot of power, buthe has hit for average his entire career. The Giants also have a need for a shortstop as they appear to be parting ways with the World Series MVP Edgar Renteria.
Nishioka has chosen the Beverly Hills Sports Council to represent him if he moves to the Majors.
