The Kenta Maeda Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ben Badler[/url]"]Maeda opened the game with four scoreless innings, but things unraveled for him in the fifth inning, when he allowed five runs and left the game at the end of the frame. Maeda showed solid velocity, sitting at 90-94 mph, though a lot of scouts project him as a back-end starter because they don’t see a reliable out pitch he can lean on to miss bats. Maeda mixes four-seam fastballs and two-seamers, along with an 80-83 mph slider, an 83-85 mph changeup and an occasional slow curveball in the low-70s.

 

In his most recent start, 19-year old Shohei Otani outdueled Maeda, topping out at 99. You might remember Otani as someone who flirted with signing with an MLB team out of HS before staying in the NPB. Otani and fellow teen phenom RHP Shintaro Fujinami are probably about 5 years from being posted.

 

Tweet from today (Anraku is the kid who threw like 800 pitches in one week at a HS tourney last year):

 

@BenBadler: Otani, Fujinami and Anraku are the best young arms in Japan. Maeda doesn't have their ceiling, but he should be next to make the MLB jump.

 

Tweet from last August, their rookie season:

 

@BenBadler: Only two starters in Japan's Central League have a lower ERA than 19-year-old Shintaro Fujinami. Better pitcher than Shohei Otani.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

not at all interested in Maeda for what he's likely to cost.

[Guest]

not at all interested in Maeda for what he's likely to cost.

 

What do you think he's likely to cost?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

way too much for a guy that's a back-end starter, especially when the Cubs are already going to have a plethora of options there.

[Guest]

Give me a ballpark, you think he'll get 10 million per(release fee included)? 15? 20?

[Guest]

Is Maeda really thought of that much worse than Iwakuma when he came over?

[SouthSideRyan]

Give me a ballpark, you think he'll get 10 million per(release fee included)? 15? 20?

 

6/114

[davell]

My initial guess on money for this guy is the 20 mill posting fee, with a 4/40 type deal.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

My initial guess on money for this guy is the 20 mill posting fee, with a 4/40 type deal.

this sounds about right. No thanks.

[SouthSideRyan]

My initial guess on money for this guy is the 20 mill posting fee, with a 4/40 type deal.

 

That sounds crazy low

[Hairyducked Idiot]

My initial guess on money for this guy is the 20 mill posting fee, with a 4/40 type deal.

 

That sounds crazy low

 

Huh. I thought it sounded like way too much for a guy who sounds awfully scrubby.

[ConstableRabbit]

Every time I see this name.

 

 

http://media.cleveland.com/onstage_impact/photo/8840959-large.jpg

 

[Clem Fandango]

Every time I see this name.

 

 

http://media.cleveland.com/onstage_impact/photo/8840959-large.jpg

 

I can't believe you... Maeda that joke.

[davell]

My initial guess on money for this guy is the 20 mill posting fee, with a 4/40 type deal.

 

That sounds crazy low

 

Huh. I thought it sounded like way too much for a guy who sounds awfully scrubby.

 

None of us know what the guy ends up being. My guesstimate is based off him being relatively young and him being considered a 4/5 innings eater type. The age being the main reason he gets as much as I said.

[jersey cubs fan]

They got no choice now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

They got no choice now.

 

Oh, I bet they can find alternatives. We're going to get some starters, but it doesn't have to be any one guy.

[davell]

Is there a mid 20s Cuban we can help escape?

[Guest]

Is there a mid 20s Cuban we can help escape?

 

Only about 5 more years for Otani and Fujinami.

 

‏@ColinHumphreys 3m

 

Shohei Otani turns 20 today. He has a 2.25 FIP as a SP in NPB while posting a .292/.344/.860 slash as a starting OF the rest of the week.

[Clem Fandango]

.860 SLG?!!?!? Is he the Kris Bryant of NPB?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Is there a mid 20s Cuban we can help escape?

 

Only about 5 more years for Otani and Fujinami.

 

‏@ColinHumphreys 3m

 

Shohei Otani turns 20 today. He has a 2.25 FIP as a SP in NPB while posting a .292/.344/.860 slash as a starting OF the rest of the week.

wasn't otani the guy who almost figured out a way to go to mlb straight out of hs instead of npb?

[sneakypower]

i think he's probably just one of those idiots who substitutes OPS for SLG

[Deeg]

Is there a mid 20s Cuban we can help escape?

 

Only about 5 more years for Otani and Fujinami.

 

‏@ColinHumphreys 3m

 

Shohei Otani turns 20 today. He has a 2.25 FIP as a SP in NPB while posting a .292/.344/.860 slash as a starting OF the rest of the week.

wasn't otani the guy who almost figured out a way to go to mlb straight out of hs instead of npb?

 

There's no "figuring out" - anybody can do it, it's just a matter of choice. Once you go into the NPB system you're locked into their posting rules but before that, it's your call. It's just that high-schoolers who have the confidence to even consider jumping straight to American pro ball - and leaving home at 18 - are very rare in Japan.

[Guest]

Is there a mid 20s Cuban we can help escape?

 

Only about 5 more years for Otani and Fujinami.

 

‏@ColinHumphreys 3m

 

Shohei Otani turns 20 today. He has a 2.25 FIP as a SP in NPB while posting a .292/.344/.860 slash as a starting OF the rest of the week.

wasn't otani the guy who almost figured out a way to go to mlb straight out of hs instead of npb?

 

Yes, he was the one back in 2012. FYI, there's no rule against a Japanese HSer signing with an MLB team and not signing with the NPB team that drafted him so he didn't actually figure out some loophole. It's just frowned upon in Japan.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I thought NPB did something to stop him. hmm

[Guest]

I thought NPB did something to stop him. hmm

 

I remember there being some recruiting, including the Nippon Ham Fighters allowing him play both ways. MLB's new bonus caps didn't help.