2009 Japanese League Free Agents

JAPAN - Free agency in the Nippon professional Baseball League (NPB) is a little different from Major League Baseball (MLB) free agency. Starting this year, there are two categories of free agency: domestic and international. NPB players qualifying for domestic free agency can only move to other NPB teams, while players qualifying for international free agency are free to try their luck abroad as well.

Domestic free agency requires 8 years of service time, while international free agency requires 9 years. One year of service time is defined as 150 days on the team’s top roster.

Below are the upcoming free agents and a brief summary from the Japanese baseball website, NPB Tracker.

International Free Agency:

Koji Uehara (P, Yomiuri Giants): Of the current crop of upcoming free agents, Uehara is the most outspoken about his desire to play in MLB.

Kenshin Kawakami (SP, Chunichi Dragons): Chunichi’s top starter is also likely to bolt for MLB.

Hitoki Iwase (RP, Chunichi Dragons): The Dragons’ veteran lefty closer is a free agent again this year. We’ll see if he hangs around or decides to try his hand at MLB.

Tomohiro Nioka (SS, Yomiuri Giants): I’m not sure if Nioka will rack up the service time he needs to move internationally by the end of the season.

Masahiro Araki (2B, Chunichi Dragons): Araki has hinted at trying the free agent market, but I would be surprised if he signed elsewhere.

Hirokazu Ibata (SS, Chunichi Dragons): Nikkei Sports reports that Ibata will remain with Chunichi and “has no interest in filing for free agency.”

Ryoji Aikawa (C, Yokohama BayStars): I don’t see him leaving Yokohama. Aikawa comments on his free agency: “when I joined the team I didn’t think I could do this. I’ll consider what to do after the season.”

Tatsuhiko Kinjoh (CF, Yokohama BayStars): According to Sponichi, Kinjoh is not planning on declaring free agency and will stay with the BayStars, at least for another year.

Naoyuki Ohmura (CF, Softbank Hawks): Ohmura has stated publicly that he wants to try his hand at MLB. “I want to go,” says Ohmura, “life is short and you only get one chance at it.”

Norihiro Nakamura (3B, Chunichi Dragons): “Not interested in other teams” were his exact words.

Masafumi Hirai (RP, Chunichi Dragons): Qualified for free agency last year, but elected to sign a one year contract with Chunichi. Having a bad season. Kind of an MLB sleeper type.

Atsunori Inaba (OF, Nippon Ham Fighters): Inaba’s contract is up, but he’s unlikely to move.

Daisuke Miura (SP, Yokohama BayStars): Miura is finishing up a six-year contract with Yokohama. Hanshin is already gearing up to make a play for him.

Kim Dong-Ju (3B, Doosan (Korea): Orix is looking at Kim as their third baseman for next year.

Domestic Free Agency (8 years service time):

Ryota Igarashi (RP, Yakult Swallows): The hard-throwing reliever will carefully think over his options in the off-season.

Akihiro Higashide (2B, Hiroshima Carp): Higashide made some comments that you don’t typically hear from Japanese players: “I’ve worked hard to reach free agency. This is the result of year after year of fighting to be my best. I have to put good results in this kind of year.”

Hisanori Takahashi (SP, Yomiuri Giants): Takahashi just recently qualified. “I’ve got this season on my mind and right now I don’t have the luxury of thinking about it,” said Takahashi, adding “it’s a milestone, and a personal reward. I want to think about what to do as an individual baseball player.”

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