Peter Gammons on Rakuten Eagles' owner Hiroshi Mikitani, the new posting system, and Masahiro Tanaka:

... Of course, if such an exhibition were to get into a serious planning stage, Mikitani would have to resolve the issue of the new MLB-NPB posting agreement and whether or not Tanaka will be allowed to come to an American team. The agreement, forged this week, limits posting fees to $20M and allows the posted player to negotiate with all the teams willing to pay $20M for the rights to negotiate. Mikitani is the one Japanese owner who strongly opposed the new agreement, and Wednesday suggested in an interview that he would not post Tanaka, who isn't a free agent for two more years. "It's a terrible deal for a Japanese owner," says one MLB executive. "I don't blame Mikitani."

It just so happens that the 25-year old Tanaka is in the sites of the Yankees, Dodgers and other MLB teams interested in signing him. Because he will not be a free agent until after the 2015 season, he must be posted by Rakuten, and Mikitani Wednesday said, "I don't intend to post him."

Source: Gammons Daily 12/9/2013

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Rakuten Eagles' president Yozo Tachibana on Mikitani telling Gammons he does not intend to post Tanaka: "This is not something that the owner and I can decide.  This is something for the company to decide."

Tachibana is expected to meet Tanaka at some point after he returns to Japan from his trip to the Winter Meetings in Florida.  A meeting likely will not take place until after the new system is officially in place.  Tachibana is planning to ask Tanaka to return next season.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/11/2013

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Tanaka spent some time at Kleenex Stadium on Tuesday.  Workouts included playing catch for about fifteen minutes -- he threw the ball about fifty times and maxed out the distance at about thirty meters -- and weight training.

Source: Daily Sports 12/11/2013, Sponichi 12/11/2013

Toru Matsubara, secretary general of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA), told reporters he thought the new posting system agreement was good because it will allow players to talk to multiple teams.  However, he also voiced concern about the possibility of fewer teams agreeing to post players because of the lower fees and added that discussions to shorten international free agency requirements were necessary.

Source: Sponichi 12/10/2013

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The NPB and MLB are planning to make a joint announcement about the new posting system.  The new system will be good for three years, to reportedly coincide with the MLB's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Source: Sponichi 12/10/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka's meeting with Rakuten Eagles' President Yozo Tachibana may not take place until some time on or after the 15th.  Tachibana left for the Winter Meetings in Florida today.  If he stays in the United States until the end of the meetings (he told reporters that his return date was not set), he may not return to Sendai until the 15th, at the earliest.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/10/2013, Sports Hochi 12/10/2013

The NPB announced today that their posting system negotiations with the MLB were done.  Loose ends have been tied and the NPB will now wait for confirmation from the MLB.  An announcement of an agreement could be made as early as Tuesday (December 12).

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/9/2013

The new system will likely be given a new name.

Source: Sponichi 12/9/2013

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Masahiro Tanaka worked out for about two hours at Kleenex Stadium on Sunday.  Tanaka reportedly told the team that he did not want to go on the championship trip to Hawaii out of concern and respect for his teammate's privacy.  There was also some concern that media might overrun the hotel, forcing him to spend most of his time indoors.  His decision not to go may have also had something to do with making sure he had enough time to talk things over with the organization (if he were to go on the trip, he would not return until the 17th).

Rakuten Eagles President Yozo Tachibana will leave for the US on Tuesday for the Winter Meetings.  Tachibana might have a chance to meet Tanake before his departure, but if not, their meeting will have to wait until after he returns, which will likely be on or after the 15th.

Source: Sanspo 12/9/2013, Sponichi 12/9/2013

Rakuten Eagles' President Yozo Tachibana told reporters today that they held internal discussions about whether they should post Masahiro Tanaka based on what they currently know about the new proposal.

Various Tachibana quotes:

"If he wants to go, we would like to let him go.  We will work from there.  However, there is a question of whether or not the upper threshold of two billion yen is a fair assessment of his value."

"When we asked [ourselves] how much we would want if there were no threshold, it ended up being higher than two billion yen."

"Asking him to stay is a fairly high priority."

The Eagles plan to sit down with Tanaka within the next few days to confirm his desires.  The meeting will have to take place before the 11th since that is when the team departs for its championship trip to Hawaii.

Source: Jiji Press 12/7/2013, Nikkan Sports 12/7/2013, Nikkan Sports 12/7/2013

Rakuten Eagles President Yozo Tachibana spoke to the media on Thursday and mentioned a few things in relation to the new posting system agreement.  Below are quotes taken from various sources.

"We have not received official word about the new agreement."

"Whether this is a fair amount for one pitcher, this is something we need to explain to the stockholders.  Is that number fair?  Is that methodology right?  I think it will be important to make sure the fans understand."

"We are obligated to provide an explanation to stockholders and fans about whether or not this is a fair deal.  We have to discuss this, and the methodology, internally."

"There is a chance we will not take the next step."

"There is a range we feel is appropriate.  If the fans and everyone feels [the deal is not] reasonable, then there is a chance we can not move on to the next step."

"I will talk [to Tanaka] at least once [before I leave for the winter meetings in the US and he leaves for the championship trip to Hawaii]."

"We will talk to Tanaka once the agreement becomes official."

To clarify the quotes above, the Eagles are planning to hold internal discussions to see if makes sense to post Tanaka under the new rules.  They also plan to take fan sentiment into consideration.  It is possible they may decide not to post Tanaka.

Incidentally, Yu Darvish tweeted that it might be difficult for the Eagles to post Tanaka at two billion yen.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/5/2013, Sponichi 12/5/2013, Jiji Press 12/5/2013

Rakuten Eagles' owner Hiroshi Mikitani had a revealing conversation over Twitter.

In response to the following question:

三木谷さん、余計な心配ですが田中投手はメジャー行けるのでしょうか？

Mikitani-san, this may not be my concern, but will [Masahiro] Tanaka be able to go to the Majors?

He replied:

ここまで来たら、後は大リーグ次第でしょう。正直、うちの球団にとっては、痛いけど、若者がチャレンジする事はいい事だと思います。

We have come this far, it is now up to the Majors.  Honestly, this will really hurt our team, but I think it is a good thing for young people to take on new challenges.

UPDATE @ 10:56am -

Mikitani also spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said, "There is not much that can be done until the posting system agreement is finalized.  No sense in talking about hypotheticals.  I think it is good for young people to take on new challenges, but please allow me to stop there."

He also said, "With Iwakuma-kun, a lot of things happened after [he was posted] so I think it best not to say thing too lightly.  I am sure there will be a formal announcement from the team once a decision has been made.  Even if he is posted, we have our past experiences so I do not want to irresponsible with the things I say."

Source: Sports Hochi 11/27/2013

The 2013 MVP Award winners were announced tonight.

Wladimir Balentien

Masahiro Tanaka

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(continue reading...)

The Eagles held their last official organization-wide meeting of the year on Monday.

Source: Sports Hochi 11/25/2013

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Yoshinao Kamata on his right elbow surgery: "I will have surgery to strengthen my elbow with pins. ... If I have the surgery now, I might be able to resume playing catch by January next year.  Opening day might be a little difficult, but I will be fine if I can make it into the starting rotation after I am fully recovered."

Source: Sports Hochi 11/25/2013

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Miyagi governor Yoshihiro Murai is open to the idea of adding a dome to Kleenex Stadium, but a lot of hurdles would have to be cleared, the biggest of which is the zoning laws for structures within city parks.

Source: Daily Sports 11/25/2013

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A number of awards were presented to the Eagles on Sunday:

• Miyagi Citizen's Honor Awards => the Rakuten Eagles and Tanaka; Senichi Hoshino was given a letter of appreciation [official announcement]
• Sendai's Sanji-no Tate Awards (A Shield of Praise) => the Eagles, Hoshino, and Tanaka [official announcement]
• Miyagi Parliament Chairman's Special Awards = the Eagles and Tanaka
• Hyogo Citizen's Honor Award = Tanaka [official announcement]

Source: Sports Hochi 11/25/2013

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Caroline Kennedy (new US ambassador to Japan) visited Sendai on Monday.  She made some headlines when she dropped by the Eagles' shop at Sendai Station and purchased six items, which included three championship caps and two t-shirts.  She later wore a cap during a photo opp with Toshiaki Tanaka (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Commanding General of the North East Division).

Source: Sponichi 11/25/2013

Masahiro Tanaka was presented with three certificates from the Guinness Book of World Records during Fan Appreciation Day at Kleenex Stadium today.

• The most consecutive baseball games won by a pitcher in a single season is 24 achieved by Masahiro Tanaka (Japan) pitching for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2 April to 8 October 2013.
• The most consecutive baseball games won by a pitcher during regular season play is 28 achieved by Masahiro Tanaka (Japan) pitching for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 26 August 2012 to 8 October 2013.
• The most consecutive baseball games won by a pitcher is 30 achieved by Masahiro Tanaka (Japan) pitching for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 26 August 2012 to 27 October 2013.

Tokyo Sports posted the following conversation a reporter had with Masahiro Tanaka after he arrived on Tokyo Station on his way to Taiwan for the Asia Series.

How is it going?

What do you want?

Were you able to get any rest at your home in Sendai?

Not at all.  And the decision for me to go to Taiwan was made at the last minute.

Now that you are going to Taiwan, the overhaul you were scheduled to start on the 11th had to be canceled.

I will not comment on the decision for me to go to Taiwan.

It seems the new posting agreement will be approved shortly.  When do you think you will talk to the team?

I will not comment on that either.  I have not been contacted about yesterday's [JPBPA-NPB] meeting either.

Changing subjects, it seems you are gaming a lot lately.

Huh?  Are you talking about PawaPuro (Jikkyo Powerful Pro Yakyu 2013)?

You are playing PawaPuro on a portable gaming device.

I am using a PS Vita.  Mostly Success mode.  I'm a little disappointed about it including a pay system...

It is harder to create players with top scores in hitting, defense, and running.

Well, a lot of it is luck.  I am playing without paying into the system.

You post a lot of tweets about PawaPuro.  Lately, your tweets with AV actress Kokomi Naruse have become something of a hot topic.

Oh, that.  People around me told me that Naruse-san enjoyed my tweets about PawaPuro so I retweeted her.

You have ever met?

Of course not.  I don't know any AV actresses.  I'm not Darvish (laughter).

Have you ever seen her in anything?

No.  Seriously, no.  She just followed me so I followed her back.

You probably will not pitch in Taiwan, but good luck with the fans.

Yeah, sure.

Source: Tokyo Sports 11/14/2013