Looking ahead - the 2009 Free Agent Class

bedir than average · 12-22-2007, 06:23 PM

2009 MLB Free Agents

Tampa has some very club friendly options that will be picked up, unless Rocco is hurt again.

Notable as well is that the Seattle Mariners have several higher salary players coming off the books in Sexson, Ibanez, and Johjima.

Always fun to look past this season, particularly when the club you follow has signed Carlos Silva

Jim Potable · 01-01-2008, 12:33 PM

A few days ago, I had a notion to post on Chunichi Dragons IF Masahiro Araki's suggestion that -- after he had received a 5,000,000 yen pay cut in contract re-negotiations -- he would exercise his free agent rights. He would earn those rights as early as next April -- not that he would be moved that quickly, but, now Chunichi is looking at potentially losing its core through free agency next off-season: Kawakami, Iwase, Ibata.

Fukudome, you know, is already gone.

Speaking of highly paid players: The Yankees are apparently targeting Nippon Ham ace Yu Darvish for next off season. That comes as no surprise; a number of teams (and statheads and bloggers and whatnot) will continue to keep tabs on him. Reports are drawing comparisons to Daisuke Matsuzaka -- that is, he is arguably the best pitcher in Japan and would require a posting fee (were he posted) that would no doubt exceed what the Red Sox paid for negotiations with Matsuzaka. And then you'd have to add in the contract. Add: Darvish will be pitching in the 2008 Olympics, "on the world stage" -- similar to Matsuzaka pitching in the World Baseball Classic in 2006. Not to forget Trey Hillman -- former Nippon Ham manager and former-former Yankees minor league coach -- who apparently still delivers to Yankee scouts.

Darvish, this off season, just received the highest contract given to a NPB player at his age. Deservedly so. Now, why would Nippon Ham consider posting him during the 2008 off-season?

Near as I can tell, though, Nippon Ham is not in dire finacial straits as Seibu Corp. was when they offered up Matsuzaka. I remember reading -- from the west -- that there was specualtion that SoftBank ace Kazumi Saito could be posted last off-season. SoftBank, near as I can tell, is not in the same financial straits as Seibu was. Seibu posted Matsuzaka in his final year -- and finally, if you follow me -- as well. Saito still has a few years coming. 21-year-old Darvish has plenty more.

These corporations that run the teams still have a lot of time, if not money. At any rate, Darvish has never clearly expressed a desire to play in the Majors. In fact, I recall his saying that NPB has to become stronger. Could change. Sure. Finally.

Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima is in the final year of his contract and could, reportedly, return next year to SoftBank to share what he has learned.

12-22-2007, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Looking ahead - the 2009 Free Agent Class 2009 MLB Free Agents Tampa has some very club friendly options that will be picked up, unless Rocco is hurt again. Notable as well is that the Seattle Mariners have several higher salary players coming off the books in Sexson, Ibanez, and Johjima. Always fun to look past this season, particularly when the club you follow has signed Carlos Silva __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-01-2008, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jim Potable Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aichi, Japan Posts: 205	short and sweet NPBish angle A few days ago, I had a notion to post on Chunichi Dragons IF Masahiro Araki's suggestion that -- after he had received a 5,000,000 yen pay cut in contract re-negotiations -- he would exercise his free agent rights. He would earn those rights as early as next April -- not that he would be moved that quickly, but, now Chunichi is looking at potentially losing its core through free agency next off-season: Kawakami, Iwase, Ibata. Fukudome, you know, is already gone. Speaking of highly paid players: The Yankees are apparently targeting Nippon Ham ace Yu Darvish for next off season. That comes as no surprise; a number of teams (and statheads and bloggers and whatnot) will continue to keep tabs on him. Reports are drawing comparisons to Daisuke Matsuzaka -- that is, he is arguably the best pitcher in Japan and would require a posting fee (were he posted) that would no doubt exceed what the Red Sox paid for negotiations with Matsuzaka. And then you'd have to add in the contract. Add: Darvish will be pitching in the 2008 Olympics, "on the world stage" -- similar to Matsuzaka pitching in the World Baseball Classic in 2006. Not to forget Trey Hillman -- former Nippon Ham manager and former-former Yankees minor league coach -- who apparently still delivers to Yankee scouts. Darvish, this off season, just received the highest contract given to a NPB player at his age. Deservedly so. Now, why would Nippon Ham consider posting him during the 2008 off-season? Near as I can tell, though, Nippon Ham is not in dire finacial straits as Seibu Corp. was when they offered up Matsuzaka. I remember reading -- from the west -- that there was specualtion that SoftBank ace Kazumi Saito could be posted last off-season. SoftBank, near as I can tell, is not in the same financial straits as Seibu was. Seibu posted Matsuzaka in his final year -- and finally, if you follow me -- as well. Saito still has a few years coming. 21-year-old Darvish has plenty more. These corporations that run the teams still have a lot of time, if not money. At any rate, Darvish has never clearly expressed a desire to play in the Majors. In fact, I recall his saying that NPB has to become stronger. Could change. Sure. Finally. Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima is in the final year of his contract and could, reportedly, return next year to SoftBank to share what he has learned. Last edited by Jim Potable; 01-01-2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason: links added