The Kenta Maeda Thread

[treebird]

"maeda wasn't even posted, what could we have done" would be our most fun excuse for lowering payroll yet

[Guest]

@BenBadler: Speculation. Maeda hasn't made a decision. Neither has his team RT @Tommy_Blackjack you don't buy that report saying he might not be posted?

[Guest]

there was some last minute uncertainty with tanaka because of the new posting system but i don't recall this being a thing.

 

Every posted player that I can remember has had similar mentions of how the team isn't sure if they want to post him, some even include that the player hasn't entirely made up his mind. It's all part of the dance. In this case you can make the argument that there's more to it, the combination of posting rule changes and Maeda's lack of OMG ceiling probably make him more likely than recent imports to stay in Japan, but that link doesn't really tell us much at this point.

[SouthSideRyan]

Wouldn't the lack of OMG ceiling lead Hiroshima to be more likely to collect their 20M? There's less benefit for them to hold on to him.

[Clem Fandango]

@BenBadler: Speculation. Maeda hasn't made a decision. Neither has his team RT @Tommy_Blackjack you don't buy that report saying he might not be posted?

 

You could say he hasn't... Maeda his mind up

[Vinestal]

@Kazuto_Yamazaki: Orix outfielder Yoshio Itoi wants to get posted this off-season, will talk to his team. http://t.co/RbViZ2Bzc4

Looks like an interesting player... Meh kind old though

[Guest]

Oooh, that is interesting. Aoki(also a FA this year and also a bats-left-throws-right outfielder) is a logical comparison.

 

In Japan:

Aoki(thru age 29): .329/.402/.454, 11% K%, 9% BB%

Itoi(thru age 32): .306/.394/.467, 16% K%, 11% BB

 

Aoki in MLB: .287/.353/.387, 8% K%, 8% BB

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

so he's an older, not as good Aoki?

[rawaction]

so he's an older, not as good Aoki?

 

Not as good? Those are basically the same numbers, hell Itoli has the OPS advantage.

[Guest]

Well, he and Aoki are the same age. I think you can also say that while their overall output is probably similar, Itoi's appears to be the more well rounded skillset.

 

Here's a couple year old scouting reports:

 

http://irfast.blogspot.com/2013/08/yoshio-itoi-scouting-report.html (very detailed, w/ swing gifs, even some NPB splits and pitch type info)

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2013/11/4/4825114/international-free-agent-profile-2014-yoshio-itoi

 

He also hit .286/.500/.524 w/ a HR, 2/2 SB, and 2/6 K/BB at last year's WBC. (1 for 5 w/ 2 BB and K against the two 'real' teams, Cuba & PR)

[Gilby]

If he can still play CF, I'd definitely be interested. I don't really want to count on Alcantara; he can move to 2B if Javy fails (though that would probably be Russell) or can super sub. Itoi's splits don't concern me a ton, as he can platoon with Ruggiano. Bryant, Itoi/Ruggiano, and Soler in the OF looks good to me.

[Guest]

@MLBNetworkRadio: Trey Hillman tells us if Japanese Pitcher Kenta Maeda posts this year, he evaluates him as a #4 or #5 starter

[Tryptamine]

And yet there was still speculation that he might get 20M annually.

[Deeg]

In the first place, there's no way Maeda is getting 20m a year. And in the second, that's one guy's opinion. And it's a guy who hasn't been in NPB for what, 7 years? Wouldn't surprise me if he never saw Maeda in person in his life. His opinion is as good as anyone else's who's not actively involved in Japanese baseball but from what I've seen of Maeda, I think he's better than that - likely a #3 starter, with a chance to be a #2.

[Guest]

Players to watch in the NPB-MLB All-Star series: http://thedynastyguru.com/2014/11/12/players-to-watch-for-in-the-npb-mlb-all-star-series/

 

Link has a nice summary on young stars Fujinami and Otani along with mentions of a few guys who might get posted. On Maeda:

 

Game 1: Kenta Maeda, RHP

 

The 26-year old righty could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter in the MLB. He goes by “Maeken,” and features a low 90s fastball, slider, change up, curve, and above average command. In 2014, he  posted the 3rd best ERA (2.60), 2nd best FIP (2.91), best K/BB ratio (3.93) and BB/9 (1.97). Many thought he was going to be posted this winter, but after the Carp got defeated in the postseason for a second straight year, the chances are getting slimmer. We may have to wait another year to see Maeda pitch in the big leagues.

[Guest]

Maeda not getting posted would bum me out pretty bad.

[Infrequent Poster]

According to Jim Allen of the Kyodo News, the Hiroshima Carp have informed right-handed starter Kenta Maeda that he will not be posted this offseason.

[Guest]

http://media.giphy.com/media/G3KjWkqGYBrnG/giphy.gif

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Haha.

[Banedon]

http://media.giphy.com/media/G3KjWkqGYBrnG/giphy.gif

 

http://media.giphy.com/media/1rQQjM3XCoYBq/giphy.gif

[treebird]

i don't think we have the cash on hand for maeda this offseason so i say this is a good thing. let's throw him onto the pile of starters to potentially go after next winter.

 

also this is exhibit z in why signing actual available players (like jon lester!) is awesome and waiting for non-existent illusory players sucks.

[Guest]

http://media.giphy.com/media/G3KjWkqGYBrnG/giphy.gif

Good thing Cubs didnt take your advice and bet the whole year on Maeda.

[Guest]

Man, Otani is a stud: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/shohei-otani-strikes-16-complete-game-japan/

 

The link includes video from today's game, where he threw a complete game with 16 strikeouts and hit 99 on his final pitch. And he just turned 20 on Sunday.

 

12:33

Comment From Shohei

What level of prospect is Shintaro Fujinami?

12:33

Kiley McDaniel: Very good, but not Otani-level. That’s the dude in Japan. Every scout I’ve talked to says Shohei Otani is better than Darvish.

[SouthSideRyan]

Isn't Ohtani like 4-5 years away from being posted?

[Tryptamine]

Isn't Ohtani like 4-5 years away from being posted?

 

If I remember correctly, Japanese players need to fulfill 7 years of service time before they can be posted and last year was both Fujinami and Ohtani's first season, so you're looking at them both being posted in 2020.