Here's the latest on Japanese players who could be coming to North America and a North American who's staying in South Korea…
- There is "a bit of concern" among executives that Yu Darvish won't decide to be posted this winter, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. It has been widely assumed that Darvish would be posted and immediately become one of the most sought-after pitchers on the market, despite the fact that it will cost a team at least $100MM to both win the posting bid and then sign Darvish to a contract.
- The transition to four days' rest from six days' rest between starts will be the biggest transition for Darvish if he comes to the Major Leagues, writes ESPN's Jason Coskrey. Coskrey also provides brief scouting reports of Wei-Yin Chen, Hisashi Iwakuma and Tsuyoshi Wada, three pitchers likely to make the jump from NPB to MLB this winter.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter) suggests the Indians aren’t likely to pursue Norichika Aoki, the three-time Central League batting champion who will be posted this offseason. As Hoynes reported yesterday, however, the Indians are interested in Japanese right-hander Shinobu Fukuhara.
- Dustin Nippert has signed a new two-year deal with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization, reports Dan of MyKBO.net (Twitter link). Nippert originally signed with Doosan in March. The 30-year-old right-hander pitched three seasons each with the Diamondbacks and Rangers from 2005-2010 before being non-tendered by Texas last offseason.
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith also contributed to this post
MrBaseball29
If Darvish don’t post I’ll never watch the MLB again
NickinIthaca
What’s your reasoning for feeling that way? MLB won’t get any worse because of it, considering he hasn’t played any games over here yet…
FrankTheFunkasaurusRex
I hope Darvish doesn’t post. He’s being way overvalued right now. Wait a year so his posting fee drops
Lunchbox45
if he’s smart he’ll post and not sign, that way he can sign the following year without the posting system.. He’ll probably get a much bigger contract without a team having to shell out the posting fee
MrBaseball29
He’s not a FA till like 17
Lunchbox45
huh?
shockey12 2
He is still under contract with the Fighters until 2014 or 2015 so if he doesn’t sign after getting posted the he’ll have to wait until his contract Is up.
MrBaseball29
I thought it was until 2017
Commander_Nate
It’s 2014. Until then, he’d have to be posted.
bobbybaseball
I bet both the Red Sox and the Cubs pass on him if he does post after the results of the
Dice-K experiment.
KyleB
Yu Darvish is a tease.
Guest 6195
Don’t worry guys, see, I posted?
EdinsonPickle
How clever! See what he did there! His name is Yu Darvish and he “posted” like posting on a forum!!! Tee hee!
Mariners4Ever
Man you corny!…. goodness gracious!
Jay
How is that corny please tell me
Mariners4Ever
My bad should be more aware what i write from now on.
Jay
Now thats very funny,hehe
KyleB
I don’t get it…
😛
Jay
You don’t get it.Darvish just posted on here,hehe
CaseyBlakeDeWitt
Please learn how sarcasm works sir..