Yomiuri Giants: Tatsunori Hara’s 2-year deal has a condition
by Gen on Nov.16, 2011 @ 11:13 am, under NPB
As mentioned yesterday, Tatsunori Hara accepted a 2-year extension to continue managing the Yomiuri Giants on Tuesday. What wasn't mentioned was that the team reserves the right to terminate the contract after the first year if the team doesn't win.
"We offered him a 2-year deal," said owner Tsunekazu Momoi. "There is a condition: if the Giants don't win for the third straight year, we told him that he'll need to take responsibility. It's a 2-year deal but I don't think we can afford a third straight year [without a championship] and I'm sure [Hara] will do his job with that in mind."
Momoi also told reporters that GM Hidetoshi Kiyotake will continue to do his job as GM and team organization chief officer for the time being and that he wasn't entirely sure how things were going to turn. Regarding Suguru Egawa, Momoi said he couldn't see anything happening, at least right away, after all that happened.
And Sanspo asks if all this might make Tomoyuki Sugano change his mind about turning the Nippon Ham Fighters down since it means there's a chance Hara might not be with the Giants during the next draft.
The termination clause is not in the contract.
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/giants/news/20111117-OHT1T00283.htm