New Entrent in Kawakami Derby: Minnesota
The race for Kenshin Kawakami is heating up — Sponichi is reporting that the Twins and Giants are getting into the chase. The market for Kawakami has predictably built up with the signings of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, which frees up the Braves and Giants to get involved.
Dan Evans lists three reasons for Kawakami’s popularity:
- They’re open to talking to all 30 teams, without concern for the team’s home park or how strong they are.
- The acquiring team doesn’t have to worry about losing a draft pick for signing Kawakami.
- Kawakami hasn’t had any major breakdowns over the last few years.
I think point #2 needs to be changed — MLB teams pay compensation to each other for acquiring free agents; so do NPB teams. Some kind of rights transfer compensation seems appropriate for players moving from NPB to MLB as well.
17/12/2008 at 8:37 am Permalink
Some kind of rights transfer compensation seems appropriate for players moving from NPB to MLB as well.
My suggestion is they reform the NPB draft to include a compensation round (a la the MLB compensation draft pick route where they give a sandwich pick to players who lose there Class A and B free agents) in the NPB draft for players who depart to MLB. Though of course, as I’ve said my head would explode if NPB came up with something like that.
Also, instead of the lackluster compensation for free agents which is when a free agent departs to another team in NPB, where you get a player that’s almost always less useful that the one you lost via free agency, does nothing to help put teams at a advantage. You add the compensation round and NPB teams could hopefully draft more players to better replace the ones who depart to the Hanshin’s/Yomiuri’s of the world or the ones who leave to MLB. Though to keep the current system of compensation for losing free agents is laughable.
17/12/2008 at 9:33 am Permalink
My suggestion is they reform the NPB draft to include a compensation round (a la the MLB compensation draft pick route where they give a sandwich pick to players who lose there Class A and B free agents) in the NPB draft for players who depart to MLB. Though of course, as I’ve said my head would explode if NPB came up with something like that.
This would help if it was a high enough pick. Remember that most teams choose to draft fewer than the maximum of 10 players, and there is also that silly rule where if two teams select the same player they have to draw for him.
Though to keep the current system of compensation for losing free agents is laughable.
I don’t know if I’d call the system laughable, though it could be more effective. Masato Akamatsu, who was never going to get the chance to play for Hanshin, had a decent year after moving to Hiroshima as compensation.
18/12/2008 at 3:21 am Permalink
“and there is also that silly rule where if two teams select the same player they have to draw for him.”
I think that only applies for the 1st round. This theoretical sandwich round could work as a regular waiver round with whichever teams that have sandwich picks making their selections in reverse order of their records.
18/12/2008 at 1:10 pm Permalink
Yeah, that rule only applies to the first round. One thing to consider about on a sandwich round would be that some of the 2nd choice guys would be off the table. I’m not sure that it would be an attractive alternative over taking an NPB player. Maybe they could add it as an option and let teams choose. Currently the teams can choose players or money.
18/12/2008 at 1:14 pm Permalink
This would help if it was a high enough pick. Remember that most teams choose to draft fewer than the maximum of 10 players, and there is also that silly rule where if two teams select the same player they have to draw for him.
Yeah I’m aware of that. The league does need to get rid of it, but I don’t think its happening. My idea kind of goes like what Simon was proposing to add a round in between the 1st and 2nd rounds. Because with all the schools and industrial leagues, we know the talent is there to fill and compensate for players who depart to other NPB teams or across the pond to MLB. The key thing is does NPB really want to do it?
I don’t know if I’d call the system laughable, though it could be more effective. Masato Akamatsu, who was never going to get the chance to play for Hanshin, had a decent year after moving to Hiroshima as compensation.
I’m sorry if I come across so rash, but when I look at compensation such as Akira Etoh a few years back, if I’m remembering the right name, I can’t help but think there could be a better system to compensate teams for losing free agents.
18/12/2008 at 1:17 pm Permalink
One thing to consider about on a sandwich round would be that some of the 2nd choice guys would be off the table
The counter to that is, what do NPB teams do about players who depart to MLB via free agency? Of course it would take some of the 2nd round guys off the table and for that I don’t think the collective heads in NPB be excited about it, but I can’t see how its helping them to lose players to MLB for nothing either.
19/12/2008 at 7:10 am Permalink
I think Patrick that if you’re looking at some form of rights transfer compensation for players moving from the NPB to MLB as suggested, you’d also have to be looking at bringing the free agent requirements for both leagues into sync. Isn’t owning a players rights for an additional three years more than adequate compensation in itself? I’m not disagreeing with the concept, but for it to be viable you’d have to be working from the same base and I can’t see the NPB being accomodating in that regard.
20/12/2008 at 1:10 am Permalink
The longer service time is an excellent point — remember also that the annual service time requirements are pretty strict.
We’re coming into a time where the players union and NPB are beginning to come together on rule changes (shorter free agency term and free agency compensation changes), so we’ll have to see what develops.