Yahoo! Japan is reporting that Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase has elected to stay in Japan and not negotiate with MLB teams.
It would be foolish to project that Iwase could have come over and been able to do what Okajima did for the Red Sox in 07, but all signs point to Iwase being the superior pitcher. He would have been a great fit for a team in need of a lefty specialist, or, given the fact that several teams are looking at Troy Percival as a possible option at closer, you’d have to think Iwase might have played himself into a closer job.
We’ll likely never know. Here’s another look at Iwase on the hill for the final out of the recent Japan Series series clinching game, for which Iwase’s manager had such unflinching confidence in his star reliever, he pulled a pitcher who’d thrown a perfect game through eight innings.
4 responses so far ↓
1 John Brooks // Nov 13, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I wonder how much the prospect of Iwase pitching for Team Japan in the upcoming Olympics impacted his decision to re-sign with Chunichi? Seeing as if he was on a MLB roster next year, he would be ineligible to play for Team Japan under MLB’s rules.
Apparently the Dragons offered him two contract proposals: a one year deal worth 430 million yen, and a four year deal worth 420 million yen. Did Yahoo! Japan give any indication of what contract proposal he accepted? If he accepted the one year deal with the intention to pitch in this year’s Olympics, then he could possibly try again at MLB. If he accepted the 4 year deal, I figure he will stay in NPB.
2 A.S. // Nov 13, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Hey John, thanks for dropping in.
Actually, I saw on japanesebaseballdaily that Iwase was staying with Chunichi, but there was no article attached to confirm it. So I did a search on his name in Japanese via Yahoo Japan. This tidbit came up, but…and since I don’t speak Japanese, I had my wife (who can speak some Japanese) take a quick look. But it doesn’t say anything beyond what I reported above. No contract info or anything.
That’s an interesting thought about him re-signing in order to play for Team Japan. If he indeed signed the one-year deal it would point to him jumping next year. Although, I thought if he was every going to do it, now would be the time, given the Chunichi finale.
3 John Brooks // Nov 13, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Yeah, I saw an article over at Japan Ball, that said there was two contract proposals. Though it didn’t make any mention of any contract info or much of anything either.
Though seeing as this is going to be Iwase’s and Team Japan’s last chance to win a gold medal at the Olympics, with the IOC eliminating baseball if it isn’t voted back by the IOC for the 2016 Summer Olympics, I would think he would want to try and do everything possible to help Team Japan come out on top. Also, if he truly did sign a short term deal, then he could always pursue a MLB career next offseason.
With that all said though, maybe Iwase will stay in Japan. It would definitely be a start in helping keep big name players in NPB. From his quote, it seems like it was a quick decision to remain with Chunichi.
4 A.S. // Nov 14, 2007 at 12:30 am
I like your theory John. We’ll have to see what the contract details turn out to be. I still haven’t seen anything. I’m also wondering if he’d address that…about wanting to play for the olympic squad, to the public.
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