Tazawa Decision Stirs Controversy, Portends Future

Much-reported in recent days is the decision of twenty-two-year-old Japanese pitching phenom Junichi Tazawa to try and sign with a major league club without playing in Japan. The Boston Red Sox are said to be the favorite to sign Tazawa. The twenty-two-year-old would join a formidable pitching staff that already includes Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima. However, four Yankee scouts, Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren, Diamondbacks officials, and The Muffin Man have all been to Japan recently trying to lure Tazawa to their respective franchises. Peter Abraham of The Journal News adds the Dodgers to that mix, and MLB Trade Rumors has thrown the names of the Mariners, Cubs, Tigers and Pirates (the Pirates?!?!) into the ring.

Call me crazy: I just don’t see Tazawa taking the hill at PNC Park. Or Turner Field, for that matter.

Along with Abraham’s article above, NPB Tracker weighed in on the complications and morality of what Tazawa is trying to do. It’s something unprecedented, and these two articles offer the most well-rounded perspectives.

Basically, professional Japanese players can’t be signed by MLB teams until, after so many years of service, they are posted by their NPB team. MLB teams then bid for the right to negotiate with the player, and finally, the winning bid receives a short window of opportunity to negotiate with the player. Only a “gentleman’s agreement,” however, has thus far kept MLB teams from signing young Japanese players before they sign with a Japanese team, which is exactly what Tazawa is hoping to do.

The links above cover the points/counterpoints and cost/benefits of the Tazawa situation. And keeping it all in perspective is necessary, yes, but in this particular case also makes the entire situation seem bleak for the NPB. Back when Jackie Robinson was signed to play for the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate in Montreal, a lot of Negro League owners complained that, if this ‘raiding’ of black talent continued, they would never have a competitive black league that was on par with the white major leagues. What they failed to see, of course, was the future: an integrated major leagues.

I can’t help but see the same currents here, and wonder if history is about to repeat itself on a global scale.

Content Update

Sorry it's been quiet on Global Baseball Company these last couple of weeks--I blame it on my Olympic hangover. But I did want to let everybody know what I'll have coming out in the next few weeks.

At the end of September I'll wrap up the 2008 MLB New Import Tracker and break down the regular season for our new imports. If all goes well, three of our guys will be playing in the post-season, so we'll keep an eye on their performances through October.

Winter leagues start soon, so I'll be keeping an eye on the competition there, as well as the performance and progress of those major leaguers taking part. I'll have Caribbean series coverage after that, and then it will be time for my favorite rite of spring (every few years, that is): The World Baseball Classic. Hopefully, I'll be able to report live from at least one of the rounds.

On a more serious note, our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the recent hurricanes, especially our friends in Cuba. It's got to be rough down there right now. Here's hoping they get the aid they need, and that everyone comes through okay.

So check back soon. This winter will bring all kinds of exciting action.