[11/14/2013] NPB: Eight Players File Free Agent Options
by Gen on Nov.14, 2013 @ 4:01 pm, under NPB
The NPB announced today that eight of eighty possible players filed their free agent options. Teams will be allowed to approach these eight players on Friday.
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NPB Free Agents
| Name | Pos | Age | Type | 2013 Team | 2013 Salary* | FA Lvl | Destination | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kataoka, Yasuyuki | INF | 30 | Dom | Seibu | 95.00M | B | Yomiuri | Wakiya Ryota + 40% 2013 salary |
| Kubo, Yasutomo | P | 33 | Dom | Hanshin | 120.00M | B | Yokohama | Tsuruoka, Kazunari + 40% 2013 salary |
| Nakata, Kenichi | P | 31 | Dom | Chunichi | 70.00M | C | Softbank | none |
| Ogasawara, Michihiro | INF | 40 | Int | Yomiuri | 70.00M | C | Chunichi | none |
| Otake, Kan | P | 30 | Dom | Hiroshima | 100.00M | A | Yomiuri | Ichioka, Ryuji + 50% 2013 salary |
| Tsuruoka, Shinya | C | 32 | Dom | Nippon Ham | 76.00M | B | Softbank | Fujioka, Yoshiaki + 40% 2013 salary |
| Wakui, Hideaki | P | 27 | Dom | Seibu | 220.00M | A | Lotte | Nakago, Taiki + 50% 2013 salary |
| Yamazaki, Katsuki | C | 31 | Dom | Softbank | 34.00M | C | Orix | none |
* estimates posted by Nikkan Sports
Tags: FA Option, Free Agents
Kataoka is a big loss for the Lions. When healthy, he’s one of the best players in Japan. Good luck to him.
Ryuji Ichioka is pretty fair compensation for Kan Otake straight up. Ichioka is only 22 and had a 1.10 ERA for the Giants’ farm team last year, with 15 saves, more strikeouts than innings pitched and a K/BB ratio of better than 4 to 1. In a couple of seasons, Ichioka could well be Hiroshima’s closer.
I’d guess we’re losing an outfielder in compensation. The protected list will be interesting, some big names will almost need to be left off. Like: either Ishimine or Okada.