Rakuten Eagles to sign Casey McGehee, pending physical
by Gen on Dec.21, 2012 @ 9:16 am, under NPB
According to a number of reports, the Rakuten Eagles have agreed to terms with Casey McGehee (30) and are awaiting results for his physical before making it official. According to unnamed MLB sources, his deal is likely worth around 1.5 million US dollars.
While the Yomiuri Giants were thought to be the front-runners, the Eagles may have been able to win McGehee over with more playing time and money. Rakuten is most likely hoping he can fill their hole at first base and will probably bat him fifth, immediately behind Andruw Jones.
Source: Sanspo 12/21/2012, Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012, Sponichi 12/21/2012, Daily Sports 12/21/2012, Sports Hochi 12/21/2012
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UPDATE @ 8:10pm - According to Nikkan Sports, McGehee was literally a signature away from joining the Yomiuri Giants -- terms were agreed to and he had passed his physical. In the end, it seems money was not the issue, since the Giants were also reportedly offering him more than the Eagles. What the Giants could not promise that may have ultimately driven McGehee away to Rakuten, may have been their track-record of shuffling foreign players between Ichi-gun and Ni-gun fairly frequently. Source: Nikkan Sports 12/21/2012
UPDATE 12/22 @ 2:20pm - According to at least two reports, McGehee will make an estimated 1.3 million US dollars next season, plus incentives. Source: Sponichi 12/22/2012, Sports Hochi 12/22/2012
Well, I guess my Eagles became aggressive this off-season. McGehee was a stud in 2010, not so good in 2011 and pretty pathetic in 2012. Which McGehee shows up in Sendai will be interesting. He is still pretty darn young and I would think he will have the ‘suketto surge’ where he does well at first and then the leagu catches up. I know one thing and that is the Eagles will be a interesting team to watch. Rarely has an NPB signed 2 MLBer’s to position contracts within said MLBer’s last season.
Again, a time for optimism!