Mariners meet with Japanese pitcher
The Mariners, who wanted to have the first Japanese battery in Major League history last season but struck out in their pursuit of right-hander Hiroki Kuroda who signed with the Dodgers, are now interested in 22-year-old right-hander Junichi Tazawa, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Tazawa reportedly has a 97-mph fastball, though the mid-90s is more accurate, played for the non-professional Industrial League last season and because he is not a professional player, posting fees are not required for him to play for a MLB team.
He was eligible for the recent Japanese pro Draft, but told teams in Japan that he didn't want to be drafted and preferred playing in the U.S. He was not Drafted, clearing the way for him to negotiate with MLB organizations.
A Mariners source confirmed to the P-I that team scouts met with Tazawa on Tuesday. The Atlanta Braves, according to one report, have offered Tazawa a Major League contract. The Mariners currently have 40 players on their 40-man roster and would have to remove someone if they signed Tazawa to a big-league contract.
The Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Marlins and Phillies also have shown interest. But the Mariners have something other clubs can't offer - a Japanese catcher in Kenji Johjima.
-- Jim Street
Now that would be fun to see both of them not have to cover their mouths to chat on the mound. Would a AL club really pay a translator to read their lips between pitchers or mound conferences.
Either way, the kid will be a star if his ball has good live action on it. Most of the Japanese pitchers have good late breaking action.
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The Maniners may have Kenji Johjima but the Red Sox who are also interested in Tazawa have a big game player like Dice-K who has gone through the culture change just like Tazawa will have to face if he signs with any MLB club so i think the Red Sox have a better chance to land him but the Braves are also a huge front runner for him.
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