Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish was the initial Japanese import that wielded a large posting fee ($51 million) and contract (six years, $56 million). Masahiro Tanaka came two years later, signing a seven-year $155 deal with the New York Yankees. Next up: Kenta Maeda of the Hiroshima Carp.
According to reports, it's believed that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are expected to offer the Japanese right-hander a six-year contract in the $130 million range. The 26-year-old has spent six seasons in the Japan Central League with the Hiroshima Carp, posting an 82-58 record with a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 187 career starts. His posting fee is expected to be $25 million.
According to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:
"He has told some Japanese media that when he's posted he prefers to play for the Yankees or Red Sox. Both are likely to bid, but the final contract isn't expected to come anywhere near the seven-year, $155 million Masahiro Tanaka got from the Yankees. It's hard to peg where it goes, but the expectation is more like a six-year, $120 million-$130 million deal. - but that's speculation from a source familiar with Japanese baseball."
In 26 starts this season with the Hiroshima Carp, Maeda has an 11-8 record with a 2.56 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. He also had a dominant performance in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, starting three games and pitching a total of 15 innings. Maeda ended with a 2-1 record to go along with a 0.60 ERA, a 0.60 WHIP and 18 strikeouts. Baseball America ranked Maeda as the No. 7 international prospect not affiliated with an MLB team. The right-hander made it known last December that he wanted to pitch in the MLB, and should get his wish since the Yankees and Red Sox are both familiar with the negotiating process of international (especially Japanese) players (and are also in need of pitching).
As for other international players, Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas has been cleared by the MLB to become a free agent, which was the final step in the long process to receive a big league contract. The Phillies, Rangers and Padres have worked out Tomas privately, but other teams such as the Giants, Tigers, Mets, Twins and others are believed to have interest as well. He's expected to wield a $100 million contract, so the bidding should get interesting in the offseason.
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