which japanese pitcher do you want this winter?

[Pharmcat]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/68240 ... -new-agent

Iwakuma, a star right-hander for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is expected to rank among the elite starters in a free-agent market that could include CC Sabathia, C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle, Japanese countryman Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yu Darvish of Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters. Sabathia can become a free agent if he exercises an opt-out clause in his seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees this winter.

these guys cost nothing but cash right? no picks involved or anything

so which one?

Yu? Iwakuma? Kuroda?

[Dr. Detfink]

Kuroda was being a selfish douche bag...so throw him out of the equation. Right now, the Red Sox would give away Dice-K for nothing to the Yankees....

Not sure if these cats are worth what they'll ask.

[moocow007]

Even assuming that it's a near forgone conclusion that the Yanks will bring Sabbathia back as the highest paid pitcher in baseball, they still need another top line starter. Don't trust Hughes at all and everyone else is either middle to back end of the rotation guys or a bit too far away from being ready.

I'd go with Darvish first as he will cost nothing but cash (ie. No draft picks). He's young and based on what I've read both more talented and better able to handle the spotlight than any of the other Japanese pitchers that have come over since (including Dice-K).

Then someone like Buerhle who can be bring an Andy Pettite like stable presence for the rotation.

[Pharmcat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGB69siot8

he looks good, but damn those hitters suck!


50 mill posting? then another 50 mill to sign him?

[j4remi]

With recent imported pitchers...I'm nervous about everyone named but you have to think Yu Darvish if we're gonna spend.

[Dr. Detfink]

Yea, the Yanks track record with Asian imports isn't great. Irabu...Igawa...even Wang whose stuff was great initially and then, injuries and the sinker just wasn't there....

[moocow007]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGB69siot8

he looks good, but damn those hitters suck!

Yeah a lot of movement on his pitches. Supposedly throws in the mid to high 90's and has 5 pitches he can throw including a splitter.

50 mill posting? then another 50 mill to sign him?

Might be a little higher than that according to what I've been reading. The good thing is that the Red Sox likely won't be heavy bidders which is why most assume he'll be a Yankee by the start of next season.

Let's just hope Cashman and crew doesn't get scared off by their own dealings with Japanese pitchers like they apparently did with Cuban pitchers in the Aroldis Chapman dealings with Jose Contreras being less than advertised by not being willing to put big money down on the Chapman bidding.

[Pharmcat]

i believe the rangers are also interested in him, and they have cash too

i mean Yu would just cost money, thats something nyy should never lose out on

plus NYY needs to recapture that market ever since matsui left

[moocow007]

Unless the Yankees are still suffering from nightmares from the Igawa signing I would assume that they will be heavy players for Darvish. Just seems to make too much sense not to. Unlike Dice-K who really was kinda an awkward and media blah-ish type (same for Igawa and the late Hideki Irabu), Darvish is like a rock star in Japan (having married and apparently on the way of divorcing Japan's top female songstress, posing nude in Japan's version of Playgirl and being a commercial icon there...like Jeter is here). With the looks and talent the Yanks should be able to recoup the signing bonus quickly and easily here in a matter of months.

[Pharmcat]

maybe they want to save the 100 mill for weaver in '12?

[moocow007]

maybe they want to save the 100 mill for weaver in '12?

I'm not sure that the Yanks will get a glowing report from Weaver's brother when the time comes.

[Dr. Detfink]

Red Sox would not be bidders because they blew a sick amount paying for Dice-K and his gyro ball hype. Who remembers Olney praising this guy for not icing his arm in-between starts. Turns out this guy was not worth the 100M + additional 50M for negotiation rights.

If you want another Japanese pitcher, the Red Sox will gladly give Dice K for us...for free. So bitter is that relationship, Dice K doesn't even talk to managment.

Jered like his brother relies on that strange delivery to freeze batters. No way of telling if the pressure of NY will get to him like Jeff Weaver, who regularly did pot in the bullpen before games when he was with the Tigers. Under the microscope in NY, he couldn't handle having every move scrutinized.

[Pharmcat]

yea i think any of these SP will have question marks attached

but if yu just costs cash, no picks no nothing else, imo hes the way to go