Eminor3rd

I’m not talking about the tedium of basic job responsibilities.

I know enough people that have worked there to call this point into very serious question. Modify your parenthetical to be "loyalty and protection for a select group of executives" and you can imagine how "very good owner to non player employees" becomes its exact opposite for everyone outside that select group, in ways ranging from frivolous to extremely problematic.

wat

The Sox would be one of the few teams that could feel good about giving him a rotation spot of out of the gate. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get like 1/3m or something. He could be a useful back end starter on the high end, but there just isn’t any real upside barring some transformational change to his arsenal. He's big, strong, and stable, which has allowed him to develop good command, but his stuff is maxed out and just not that exciting.

Kona is fringey, definitely at least a tick below Imai. The sad thing is he peaked two seasons ago and looked ready to get at least what Imai did, but Seibu wouldn’t let him go.

I mean if you put it that way, every players floor is “dies in plane accident tomorrow”

Imai has a much higher floor than Murakami. Would have been very surprising if he fell to the Sox the same way.

Alright, viable then

Blue Moon is a Molson Coors product. Is rate field a Miller/Coors venue?

lol

This would be bonkers, but awesome, assuming it’s another one where the deal is smaller than initially expected. I’ve seen a TON of Imai; he has really blossomed the past couple seasons after being really wild at the start of his career. I don’t see him as an mlb ace by any stretch, tbh, but I do see him as a #3/4 with youth on his side, which would be a boon for this team of course.

Merry Christmas/happy holidays to all

Even if you want to dream big on the positional side, there’s just not remotely enough pitching for an actual run.

I like things about all of them, but if we’re being honest, the median outcome for each of them is a #4

Seriously, what an embarrassing quote

I still feel like Robert to the Pirates makes so much sense for both sides. I’d take Thomas Harrington tbh

I understand why everyone wants to do these extremely low sample comps, but in reality they are pretty much useless in terms of projecting anything. There’s always bound to be just as much different about any two players as there can be that’s the same, in terms of how they actually get to their results. I think the big factor here is age. Many really good hitters from NPB have failed to make the transition to the MLB stuff/velo profile when they’ve come in their late 20s or 30s. I presume a connection between waning athleticism and the ability to make huge adjustments. Murakami at age 25/26 is promising, but we have to remember that numerical age is just a proxy for biological/athletic age, and guys with this body type do tend to peak athletically sooner. I’ll say I don’t think there’s any doubt that age 22-24 Murakami could make the necessary adjustments, evidenced both by his WBC arc and the way the NPB kept redefining how to get him out, the big question will be if age 26-27 Murakami retains that adaptability. Btw separately, Tyler is a really great source if anyone wants to consume any NPB content. He really puts a ton of time into watching and analyzing everything from top team NPB to college prospects.

This is true. But just generally, this will add up to a few million bucks. Not nothing, but also not even close to offsetting the investment. Unfortunately, the league currently retains the right to sell the international broadcasts to nhk

Yes, definitely bigger than Seiya. Murakami’s home run chase was the biggest sports narrative of the year in Japan. Seiya was the golden child for Carp fans, but the Carp are an intense but very localized fanbase. Murakami plays in Tokyo, and even though the Swallows live under the shadow of Yomiuri, it’s a much bigger and more nationally relevant stage.

I think you’re right, but I’ll also point out that this archetype is classic for a high-peak and early decline. On paper, being the team that trades him may be the wiser move than being the team to reward his breakout. As fan, I’ll be able to get behind either outcome, but it’ll be incredibly instructive to see how this leadership corp plays the hand.

Ok so obviously I love this. This is a very high risk, high reward move — but the upside is limited by the two year term. If he crushes, we’re more than likely going to see him traded in year two. Which is a bummer, but also good strategy all the same. If he busts, who cares. I’ve been following this guy his entire career. First base is absolutely where he belongs. He’s sneaky athletic for his size, but it does seem to be the type of thing where he hurts himself doing athletic things. The swing and miss is legitimately concerning, enough to sink him by itself — but both the power and plate discipline are legitimately double plus. He has at least a couple holes in his swing (sometimes up and in, sometimes up and out, sometimes middle in, sometimes low and away) but has proven his ability to make year-to-year adjustments to move them around. I’m not surprised at the low contract; this is a true feast or famine situation, and doing a prove-it deal could be best for both the player and the league. The ceiling here is Schwarber, the more realistic hope is Brent Rooker, but there are many more outcomes that look like Russel Branyan, Jack Cust, or like. You know. Dallas McPherson? Still. My god, FINALLY a reason to watch this season.

Alright guys, I’m back.

I'd invest every penny in modernizing the scouting and player development system. Consulting, equipment, personnel, etc. Unprecedented scope of reporting, purging, and generally turning a gigantic ship around despite all collateral damage.

Actually I think they literally both did

Rest in peace brother