Fu-Te Ni tawanese LHSP Signed by Tigers

[mdwilla]

There have been some rumors that 26 year old Taiwanese LHSP Fu-Te Ni is looking to make the jump to American baseball after his CPBL team, the Chinabank Whales, disbanded.

The Mariners have apparently shown interest, and have offered him a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training and a guarantee that he’d start no lower than in AA. The contract reportedly had a base salary of $50K, with a $150K signing bonus. Word is that he turned down the offer in hopes of obtaining a guaranteed major league contract.

However, he has said as recently as yesterday that he is still contemplating Seattle’s offer, or is at least still in talks with the team.

Ni led the CPBL in strikeouts this past season, and I’m told via email that “he is generally regarded as one of the best pitchers in the the CPBL.” I’ve read on some sites that he is indeed the best, for what that’s worth.

He is also being pursued by the Twins, Cubs, Tigers, Braves and Japanese teams.

I’ve sent out some emails and I will keep looking for information. If I get anything I’ll update this post.

 

http://www.bleedingblueandteal.com/12-2008/fu-te-ni/

 

 

I'm assuming they would convert him to a loogy.

[sneakypower]

or translator

[Guest]

Here are the exacts on the contract he turned down:

 

CaliforniaRaisin[/url]"]The Cubs have shown interest in Taiwanese LHP Fu-Te Ni (age 26, considered the most talented lefty in the CPBL). He turned down a Mariners offer which consisted of a $150,000 bonus w/ a $50,000 guarantee salary for next year, a ST invite and a promise for starting at least at AA next season. He's apparently looking for a major league contract.

 

The best source for Taiwanese baseball confirms that he's still mulling something over from the Mariners. It's likely he hasn't gotten the ML contract that he was hoping for (because he doesn't deserve one) and the Mariners' offer is still the best he's gotten so he's gone back to Seattle:

 

Taiwan Baseball Blogspot[/url]"]-LHP Fu-Te Ni said that he's still considering the Mariners' offer; he wants his salary to be higher than what he got in the CPBL.

 

East Windup Chronicle[/url]"]According to several Seattle Mariners blogs (why does it seem like there’s more Mariners blogs out there than any other team by the way? Crappy weather leading to more blogging time? A culture of techno literacy?), the M’s are still hot and heavy in pursuit of funky left handed reliever Ni Fu-Te.

 

Ni, the former Chinatrust Whales pitcher, has been contacted by a handful of teams from MLB and Japan for his services. Apparently the deal is being held up because Ni is looking for a guaranteed major league roster spot despite, er, never having faced a major league hitter before. Details, details. We’ll see how all of this shakes out.

[Post Count Padder]

Does he project as much?

[Tyrant]

Does he project as much?

 

From what I've seen, he's probably a LOOGY. Decent breaking ball with some good snap, but I'm not sure about the fastball and how that'll translate. He's going to have to spot it better than he has in the past, because he obviously won't get away with mistakes like he did in the CPBL. I could see him being a useful lefty out of the pen, but not much more.

 

Cubs might as well stay away.

[Guest]

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/ni-fu-te-signs-with-detroit-tigers/

 

Signs with the Tigers. $60,000/year + $150,000 bonus. He'll start next season at AAA.