Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda expressed interest in playing in the MLB last year. His current team, the Hiroshima Carp, would have to post him, which would allow MLB teams to pay a fee in order to negotiate with the right-hander. However, the Japanese ball club is hesitant to do that right now.
The Japan Times reported on Monday that Hiroshima Carp owner Hajime Matsuda may not be willing to accept tender bids for Maeda because of his uncharacteristic 2014 season. Maeda posted an 11-8 record, which was his worst since 2011, along with a 2.56 ERA, which was his worse since 2009. For his career, the right-hander is 82-58 with a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP and he's gauging interest from MLB teams to become a back-of-the-rotation starter.
"We have the right. We would like to let him go, but based on his production this year it will be difficult," Matsuda said, in this Japan Times article. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are apparently the top two suitors for Maeda, as he's expressed interest in playing for both of them.
Matsuda is likely concerned about receiving the full posting fee Maeda. The current agreement between the MLB and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) says that the maximum release (posting) fee can be set at $20 million before MLB teams can negotiate with the given player. The posting system was changed after the Rakuten Golden Eagles sought an outrageous $75 million posting fee for Masahiro Tanaka.
"If a Major League Club is able to reach an agreement on a contract with the posted NPB player, the Major League Club must pay the NPB Club the designated release fee, which will occur in installments, the timing of which depends on the size of the release fee," the agreement reads, via MLB TradeRumors.com. Maeda may receive a contract in the $120 million range.
But Matsuda shouldn't be worried, because if the Red Sox and Yankees get into a bidding war over Maeda, the maximum $20 million posting fee will be quickly paid for. If the Carp decide not to post Maeda, he will become a free agent in 2017, which is when he'll be officially eligible to play overseas.
As for another widely discussed international player, Cuba's Yasmany Tomas is expected to land in the MLB next season, but it's unknown where. According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers have shown strong interest in the outfielder. Tomas has already held two private workouts with the Padres and others with the Rangers and Phillies, which is no surprise since he's expected to land a contract in the $100 million range.
The only team on Sanchez's list that isn't very fitting is the Dodgers. They have a surplus of outfielders and since they're in the NL they couldn't even use Tomas as a DH. Meanwhile, the Rangers, Phillies, Padres and Mariners are desperate for an outfielder as well as a power bat and the Giants are looking to add a player such as Tomas ever since they lost out on Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to the Red Sox earlier this season.
There will be much more news regarding Maeda and Tomas in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
