Red Sox make offer to 22 year old Japanese righty Junichi Tazawa

JE · Nov 23, 2008

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081123&content_id=3689670&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

BOSTON -- The Red Sox, already the beneficiaries of significant success from Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima, are in the process of trying to land a third potential impact pitcher from Japan.

The Web site for Japanese newspaper Sankei Sports is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have made a $6 million contract offer to right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa.

The report indicated that the 22-year-old Tazawa met with Craig Shipley, the Red Sox's vice president of international scouting, for nearly two hours.

The Red Sox, as is their standard policy when it comes to free-agent negotiations, international or otherwise, chose not to comment on the report.

"Sorry we don't comment on any negotiation in process," Shipley wrote in an e-mail to MLB.com.

Two offseasons ago, Shipley was largely responsible for Boston's successful pursuit of Matsuzaka (fourth in the American League in the Cy Young Award race this season) and Okajima, who has been one of the best lefty setup men in the American League the last two years.
It's not known if the reported offer to Tazawa is for a Major League or Minor League contract.
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He's a little raw, but has worlds of potential.

ghoti · Nov 23, 2008

But buying established stars requires paying top dollar, and if the best Japanese amateurs are available at a tiny fraction of that price, why not go that route? Thus was born the Tazawa buzz. The right-hander would have gone in the first round of Nippon Professional Baseball's recent draft, but that is a long way from being ready for the majors. At 22, Tazawa is unlikely to throw much harder than he does now; his fastball barely tops 90 mph when he is rested, and he struggled to hit 88 mph at the end of last season. In Class A or Double-A, Tazawa likely will get hit harder and harder as the season wears on. Because he knows what he's doing against corporate league hitters here, there is a chance Tazawa will make adjustments, although Ojimi is a skeptic. The Mets scout believes the pitcher's body is too stiff to allow him to keep the ball down in the zone and Tazawa lacks the smarts and toughness to hang in and learn the lessons needed to apply his talent in the majors. Although Tazawa probably will not pitch at the major league level for the next few seasons, at least he will take the plunge.
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Link

Sounds like a pretty mediocre prospect to me.

Moo2K4 · Nov 23, 2008

How much are they going to have pay to negotiate with him? Or are they going to have to do that.

I remember a couple years back when you guys shelled out what, $20+ mil just to TALK to Dice-K. I can't imagine it would even be close to that much, if they had to at all.

Dark Defender · Nov 24, 2008

If the Red Sox are after him, he must be good.

drexlersdad · Nov 24, 2008

Moo2K4 said: ↑

How much are they going to have pay to negotiate with him? Or are they going to have to do that.

I remember a couple years back when you guys shelled out what, $20+ mil just to TALK to Dice-K. I can't imagine it would even be close to that much, if they had to at all.
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over 50 million just to talk to him. but only paid if he was signed.

JE · Nov 24, 2008

Moo2K4 said: ↑

How much are they going to have pay to negotiate with him? Or are they going to have to do that.

I remember a couple years back when you guys shelled out what, $20+ mil just to TALK to Dice-K. I can't imagine it would even be close to that much, if they had to at all.
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I don't think there's a negotiation fee. This Tazawa guy isn't that great, though he does have potential. Matsuzaka was arguably the best of the elite pitchers in Japan.

JE · Nov 24, 2008

http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/11/details-on-bostons-offer-to-tazawa/

Sponichi has published a detailed account of the contract Boston offered to Junichi Tazawa. The article also quotes ”They want me to come over, and I understand how I can develop. I feel like it’s a good team”. Nikkan Sports is reporting that Tazawa has already decided on the Red Sox, and says that he’ll be able to officially sign at the beginning of December.
Some highlights:

3 year, $3M contract (that’s $1M/year)

Major League contract

start off at class AA

remain a starter

personal translator

The dollar figure is a little surprising — there were numerous reports of a $6M offer earlier in the day. Maybe there is a bonus or incentive package that was left off of this report. We’ll learn more over the next couple days.
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Red Sox make offer to 22 year old Japanese righty Junichi Tazawa

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Red Sox make offer to 22 year old Japanese righty Junichi Tazawa

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