Tazawa to Boston?
November 23, 2008, 3:38 pmNPB Tracker is reporting that the Red Sox have offered Junichi Tazawa, the controversial Japanese pitching prospect that is essentially skipping out on his service time in Japan, a deal worth $6 million. There are no specifics pertaining to the deal and Tazawa has not accepted it (he likely has other deals on the table, as well), but the Sox are definitely going after Tazawa despite the controversy. Brian Cashman, on the other hand, is sitting this one out in order to respect the “gentleman’s agreement” between the MLB and Japan. You can discuss whether or not it’s the right move all day long, but after reading Jim Allen’s latest on Tazawa, maybe it’s for the best.
(Props to MLBTR).
Let the Sox have him. The Yankees have standards. (Well, sometimes.)
If Tazawa becomes the next Okajima or Daisuke, you can bet Cashman will be called out by the press as being asleep on the switch. Lets all hope for Tazawa’s success in the MLB.
You should note that the Braves and the Mariners have also extended Major League deals to Tazawa. Lots of teams with no morals these days.
^It’s not a matter of morals, really. When I said that “you can debate the move all day” I was referring to Brian Cashman’s involvement, not Boston’s involvement. I did note that there were probably other deals on the table, as well.
What are the Yankees exactly gaining from the gentlemen’s agreement?
Well, I don’t think they gain anything, specifically. However, the league gains something because if the teams stay out of the Japanese pool of young players, then the Japanese teams won’t scout US players (in HS) and won’t offer them huge deals to play in Japan. The players may not accept those deals, of course, but when the draft rolls around, it could end up being an effective bargaining chip, much like the “i’m going to college” story that’s constantly disrupting negotiations.