It’s already been reported in Japan that the Seibu Lions intend to post ace left-hander Yusei Kikuchi for Major League teams this offseason, but the pitcher himself said after his team was eliminated from the postseason that he has not yet made a firm decision (link via Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times). “Well, the season just ended,” Kikuchi said. “…Regarding the future, it’s not all up to me. I haven’t had a chance to talk with the team.” Kikuchi, 27, added that he needs to spend time with his family to ponder the decision before making any firm request. Coskrey writes that the Lions have publicly acknowledged that they would honor Kikuchi’s request if he ultimately wishes to be posted. Kikuchi turned in 163 2/3 innings of 3.08 ERA ball with 8.4 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9 for the Lions this season. In 1035 1/3 career innings in Japan, the three-time All-Star has a 2.81 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 — including a combined 2.58 ERA over the past four seasons.
If he is posted, Kikuchi would be free of international spending restrictions and could negotiate with all 30 MLB clubs on a contract. The new posting system between MLB and NPB would require Kikuchi’s new team to pay a fee equal to 20 percent of his contract’s first $25MM, plus 17.5 percent of his next $25MM and 15 percent of anything beyond that (including incentives, option buyouts, etc.).
A few more notes on the international market…
- The Marlins spent virtually all of their international bonus pool on brothers Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr., meaning right-hander Sandy Gaston almost certainly won’t be joining the Miami organization. Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald reports that Gaston’s camp is seeking a bonus north of $2MM for the 17-year-old flamethrower, with both the Orioles and Rays listed as potential landing spots. Baltimore has a reported sum of near $6.5MM left to spend on international amateurs, while Tampa Bay’s remaining international pool is in the $3.5MM range at present.
- The White Sox have signed infielder Enoy Jimenez, the 17-year-old younger brother of top prospect Eloy Jimenez, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America (via Twitter). Scouting information on the younger Jimenez brother is virtually nonexistent, though it should be noted that the White Sox are barred from spending more than $300K on any international amateur signing due to their pool-shattering $26MM agreement with Luis Robert from the 2016-17 signing period, meaning Enoy couldn’t have received an especially large bonus. That certainly doesn’t mean that Enoy isn’t without upside — many high-profile Latin American players sign for only a few thousand dollars — but whatever the exact amount of the bonus was, it undoubtedly falls well shy of the $2.8MM the Cubs paid to sign Eloy back in 2013.
Acuna only signed for 100k
Be nice if Trade Rumors published a list of bonus pool amounts of every team. Also how they are determined and rules about trading them, if any.
1) BR has routinely listed bonus pools. It’s usually posted around the signing period and end of season.
2) It’s determined by competitive balance picks A/B. Every other team gets a set amount.
3) Pretty sure a team can trade away all of its pool $ as long as it’s in 250k increments.
Can you trade less than 250k if the lesser amount takes the acquiring team up to its limit?
Yanks have been heavily scouting Kikuchi.
Left handed starter that has a nice mix of pitches, changes speeds well, can get up to 95mph, so translate that to the Majors it probably drops a mile or two based on the larger sized baseballs.
He is projected to be a solid number 3 but can become more.
If I’m the Yanks he is a priority along with Corbin. Left handed starters are a must in Yankee Stadium!
Last year a few knuckleheads who i will not name on here sweared that Ottani would never post!
I tried reasoning with them but I discovered they had no clue. Rather then admit it was a possibility they acted like children and started name calling, lol.
One such knucklehead is on every thread and has to be the most annoying frosted flake on this site.
Let’s see what his opinion on Kikuchi is as I’m sure it will be breathtaking!
Lmao
Yusei Kikuchi is listed as 6-0, 194 pounds on bbref.
You think that translates well to MLB?
I know you’re not referring to me, just trying to have an honest-to-good baseball debate with you.
Yes. Talent is what translates to MLB. Not size.
Two AL second basemen named Jose are in full agreement with you.
Major league baseballs are different though so there may be some growing pains to suffer through
Pedro, Guidrey, and Koufax were good with their smaller stature. Im not trying to compare him to them. Sheffield is our best prospect and he’s listed at 5’10. Talent always wins over.
Sandy Koufax is 6’ 4”.
Actually he’s 6’2”
I truly thought he was shorter
My bad on the Koufax reference
Those guys are pretty rare though – if you have to go back 40 years to Guidry and 25 years to Pedro; most short pitchers end up as relievers, which is the probable outcome for Kikuchi.
Bringing up Jose Altuve is pretty silly; plenty of position players are stars at shorter statures; starting pitchers, however, not so much.
Are you serious X ? Or are you just trolling now . That’s one of the dumbest, most short sighted comments I’ve seen from you and there’s been a lot lol
Please stop saying “trolling” when u disagree. “This is one of the dumbest, most short sighted comments I’ve seen from you and there’s been a lot lol” but unlike u, I actually like your posts. Anyway..
You have to defend your position.
Im skeptical because of his height. Tanaka 6’3 Darvish — beast before his injury woes — 6’5. hope I’m wrong for whoever signs him.
Bonus: Doesnt he come w/ injury concerns? Lol
*unlike u, to me
Sweared? Really? You’re an adult, talk like one.
Kikuchi, Sonny Gray and a bullpen arm would really make the Angels a different team (paired with some injury luck). Should be interesting to watch unfold.
Who are you trading for Gray?
No one special. Top 30 prospect?
It will b 2 “no name” prospects like the Yanks always get then one will turn into something good.
I mean that’s the risk you always take when you trade away any prospects…
1 top 30 prospect and he’s gonna be in your rotation? So you think he will be much better in LA but the Yanks will settle for nothing special in return? Hmmmmmmm
Well they definitely aren’t going to get back what they gave up to get him that’s for sure. I’m just speculating, I have no idea what kind of package it’s going to take to get Gray from the yanks but it’s not going to be something big. And yes, he would be way better in Anaheim. It’s a deceptively pitcher friendly park and despite being a big market it has small market media coverage so no huge pressure on him as in New York. New York isn’t for everyone.
Cashman isn’t dumb. He’s not gonna give him away or trade him for peanuts. Pitchers are volatile and if the Yanks held onto him and he turned it around his value goes up exponentially. He has the stuff to turn it around. Gray will be on the market and the team that offers the most will get him but I doubt it will be a moderate prospect with little projection or value.
Cashman is a solid GM and he and Eppler have a connection so that may be a reason a deal gets done but if the yanks wana hold on to gray to see if his value bounces back that’s entirely fair but as of right now I can’t see them getting a whole lot in established prospects. As the other guy said it could be a couple no name prospects and one hits and Cashman looks like a genius or they could miss and you just say it is what it is. Either way the gray trade or no trade is not going to be the biggest thing that affects the yanks this offseason. Machado is a much bigger deal to get done.
Funny how that happens. Marlins were originally connected to Gaston before the signing period started, but he failed a PED test right before it started, and the Marlins reneged on the deal. They use that money on the Mesas, and Gaston probably ends up with more than he would have originally got from the Marlins
Side note: if Yusei comes over and his theme song isnt “clear mind,” someone is messing up
anyone have a gauge on what kikuchi’s market value is? 9 figures? mid-to-high 8 figures?
he isn’t as hyped a posting as tanaka and daisuke were, but the ceiling seems just as high.
9 figures would be absolutely ridiculous.