Johjima opts out of Seattle contract

[dew1679666265]

This may not be the right forum, but I found this interesting:

 

Catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Seattle Mariners with the intent of continuing his playing career in Japan.

 

"After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to resume my career in Japan," Johjima said in a statement. "I have had a wonderful experience competing at the Major League level. The last four years have been extraordinary, with great teammates and great coaches. I will always be indebted to the Mariners organization for giving me the opportunity to follow my dream. This was a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally. I feel now is the time to go home, while I still can perform at a very high level."

[SouthSideRyan]

Jack Z will now let Johjima's family live.

[TruffleShuffle]

(a) he can still perform at a very high level? if so, the mariners would like to know where this has been.

(b) this is a huge gift to the mariners. 2 years and $16M would have been terrible for his level of production.

[Wheelimus]

Any chance Alfonso Soriano could opt out of his contract to try his luck in Japan?

 

Yeah, probably not. :cry:

[Gmoney08]

Soriano did start his career in Japan.... maybe he's got an urge to go back.

[Tarver]

That has to feel like hitting the lottery.

 

Imagine if Soriano had an overwhelming impulse to return home and opted out? They'd probably retire his number.

[Dallas Green]

I was kind of hoping Kosuke would do the same

[MWV]

I was kind of hoping Kosuke would do the same

 

Couple the fact that Kosuke put up the 3rd best OPS of NL CFers in 2009 with our dire OF situation and I'm kind of hoping Fukudome stays the course...

[The Logan]

I'm sure Johjima is going to be a beast in Japan, that's why.

[Tracer Bullet]

I was kind of hoping Kosuke would do the same

 

why in the world

[Schwarber Fan]

I was kind of hoping Kosuke would do the same

 

ZOMG!!111one Kosuke had a bad 2nd half of 2008 and slumped some times in 2009. Cut him!!!11

[Dallas Green]

I was kind of hoping Kosuke would do the same

 

ZOMG!!111one Kosuke had a bad 2nd half of 2008 and slumped some times in 2009. Cut him!!!11

 

Im not saying he is a bust, but he isnt 12 mil dollar player imo.

[Sammy Sofa]

Kosuke had a nice turnaround to show he can be a productive (platoon) player for most of the season, but he's definitely being paid too much if that's essentially all he can offer.

[Tracer Bullet]

I think whether he's been paid to much is debatable. Whether he'll be worth the $13m he'll get each of the next 2 seasons, I don't know. But so far, his value hasn't been so far below his salary that we'd be better off without him. Unless Reed Johnson or Sam Fuld in CF is the answer. Which it's not.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think whether he's been paid to much is debatable. Whether he'll be worth the $13m he'll get each of the next 2 seasons, I don't know. But so far, his value hasn't been so far below his salary that we'd be better off without him. Unless Reed Johnson or Sam Fuld in CF is the answer. Which it's not.

 

If his numbers reflected a guy who played 162 games, against righties and lefties, I would agree. But he's a platoon player, and his numbers are propped up, to some extent, by very limited playing times against lefties. Thats' a lot of money for a platoon player who is going to be playing RF again.

[woodchip2153]

According to fangraphs kosuke was worth 10.8 mil last year.

[Careless]

So what has happened with projections of Japanese stats into MLB numbers in the past 6 years? I can't imagine they're as high as they were then.

[Tracer Bullet]

I think whether he's been paid to much is debatable. Whether he'll be worth the $13m he'll get each of the next 2 seasons, I don't know. But so far, his value hasn't been so far below his salary that we'd be better off without him. Unless Reed Johnson or Sam Fuld in CF is the answer. Which it's not.

 

If his numbers reflected a guy who played 162 games, against righties and lefties, I would agree. But he's a platoon player, and his numbers are propped up, to some extent, by very limited playing times against lefties. Thats' a lot of money for a platoon player who is going to be playing RF again.

 

I don't know exactly how fangraphs calculates value, but they seem to think his value has been pretty close to his salary. Even if Kosuke is overpaid by a million or two, I'll take that over what Hendry might do with that salary.

[SouthSideRyan]

So what has happened with projections of Japanese stats into MLB numbers in the past 6 years? I can't imagine they're as high as they were then.

 

Johjima was pretty decent his first couple years. He just became an old catcher.

[Dallas Green]

According to fangraphs kosuke was worth 10.8 mil last year.

:shock:

 

Wow, I thought it wouldve been closer to 7-8 mil.

[Backtobanks]

(a) he can still perform at a very high level? if so, the mariners would like to know where this has been.

(b) this is a huge gift to the mariners. 2 years and $16M would have been terrible for his level of production.

 

I wish Hendry would have traded Bradley for Johjima two weeks ago. It would have been great to get out from under that contract.

[Jehrico]

Who's on the FA market this year that can play CF and what do they project to make? That'd be kind of key to whether I'd care of Kosuke left or not.

[dew1679666265]

Who's on the FA market this year that can play CF and what do they project to make? That'd be kind of key to whether I'd care of Kosuke left or not.

 

Free agents according to Cot's:

 

Rick Ankiel

Marlon Byrd

Mike Cameron

Endy Chavez

Coco Crisp

Johnny Damon

Reed Johnson

Andruw Jones

Mark Kotsay

Scott Podsednik

Dave Roberts

 

Cameron is the only one who would interest me.

[Careless]

So what has happened with projections of Japanese stats into MLB numbers in the past 6 years? I can't imagine they're as high as they were then.

 

Johjima was pretty decent his first couple years. He just became an old catcher.

It's not just him. We all remember the early years of the decade where we were told that the Japanese leagues were better than 4A quality, and now we've seen a bunch of what would have been first ballot Japanese league hall of famers come here. Johjima had a solid offensive season, a decent offensive season, a bad offensive season, and a poor one (and he decided not to take them up on the last two $8 million per season of his contract! Someone have him talk to Soriano). The 5A thing just doesn't seem to have been earned in last two thirds of the decade.

 

edit: but I guess this deserves its own thread in General.

[The Logan]

Who's on the FA market this year that can play CF and what do they project to make? That'd be kind of key to whether I'd care of Kosuke left or not.

 

Free agents according to Cot's:

 

Rick Ankiel

Marlon Byrd

Mike Cameron

Endy Chavez

Coco Crisp

Johnny Damon

Reed Johnson

Andruw Jones

Mark Kotsay

Scott Podsednik

Dave Roberts

 

Cameron is the only one who would interest me.

 

You mean you wouldn't want Johnny Damon? He rediscovered his power stroke this year! It had nothing to do with Yankee Stadium at all!

 

That and he has the sweetest ass in the league according to Fever Pitch.

 

And this is sickening... if Johnny Damon can get 150 hits in each of the next 5 years (he'll be 40 in the 5th year), he will surpass 3,000 hits, making his HOF chances pretty good :-&