More on the Johjima Situation

by ~ October 16th, 2009 at 10:17 am

I came across an interesting blurb today from Patrick of NPB Tracker:

Kenji Johjima (Seattle Mariners) — reports in the Japanese media say that he has an escape clause in his contract allowing him to return to Japan. Cot’s knows nothing about this. Hanshin is said to be prepared to offer 500m yen annually (about $5m), so for this to work Joh would have to take a pay cut, and the Mariners would have to not convince him to stay.

The opt out clause isn’t anything new and if you’re a regular PBNW reader you’ve seen me bring it up from time to time.  But Patrick’s use of the term “escape clause” makes it sound like a typical opt out, while Geoff Baker’s initial report in September 2008 noted some gray area.  Baker quoted Joh’s agent as saying the clause could only be used in the case of a family emergency, while he had a Mariners official saying it was entirely Johjima’s decision.

But the clause isn’t what intrigues me.  What moves the offseason storyline of Kenji Johjima along is Hanshin’s reported willingness to pay Kenji $5M.

One of the speculated reasons that Johjima wouldn’t opt out despite losing his job as a starter was the money.  Japanese baseball players make pennies compared to MLB players, so why would he give up being one of the highest paid catchers in Major League Baseball?  The return of being closer to his family, a starter and a star player is great, but that’s a lot of money to leave on the table for a morale boost.

$5M is a big paycut from the $8M he’s guaranteed with Seattle, but it’s still a ton of money and would place him among the highest paid players in Japan if I’m not mistaken.  Is that pay cut enough to trade for being closer to his family, a starter and a star?  Perhaps.

The plot thickens.

«
»

  • http://www.section331.com section331

    I’m sort of confused on the whole Kenji thing. I can’t figure out if people like him or not. His contract is repeatedly brought up, it almost seems moreso than other players NOT named Carlos Silva or Erik Bedard.

  • http://whatwouldwesleydo.wordpress.com/ wrob4343

    I totally agree with section… it got even more ambiguous after Rob Johnson started hitting and became one of the most visibly awful catchers to watch.

  • http://proballnw.com Jon

    The Johjima contract is just as frustrating as any other Mariner contracts because of the many levels of stupid that contributed.

    In no particular order:
    *Catchers are not typically good investments in free agency/extensions. Look at today’s best catchers and they are almost all drafted or signed as amateurs, with Pierzynski being the only good free agent catcher, and Posada being the only good catcher extended to a lucrative deal (and his defense is in question).
    *This wasn’t even a Bill Bavasi blunder. Reportedly he wanted no part of extending Johjima (and why would he after drafting Clement and Moore), and it was a move made over his head by Yamauchi and company.
    *There’s no way Johjima was getting 3/$24M on the open market. Extensions usually lean to the side of team friendly, but not this time.
    *Last I checked, Johjima is one of the 3 or 4 highest paid catchers in all of baseball, but he certainly doesn’t play like one (same is said for Varitek, but at least he gets the intangibles nod).

    A three year extension at $8M per for a catcher on the wrong side or 30 who isn’t liked by the pitchers and gives up more walks and homers compared to the other catchers… agh!

    Silva’s contract is certainly the biggest blemish in the accounting department, but Johjima’s is solidly there at #2.

    If Johjima can erase the final two years of his contract then I will be a very happy fan, and the Mariners front office will also be greatful for the extra $16M they get to play with the next two seasons.

  • http://www.section331.com section331

    I do remember being surprised when I first heard about the extension, but it was mainly because of his age, more than anything else…

  • SABR Matt

    Please please please PRETTY PLEASE, Kenji…go home…go away…just go somewhere other than the Mariner locker room. We need your 8 mil to sign a DH and possibly a LF or SS or 3B.

  • MarinerMan6

    My bigger concern is the fact that I think Adam Moore needs 50% playing time in Seattle this year. Couple this with the fact that Rob Johnson will be undergoing surgery on both hips, his wrist, and throwing elbow and it has made Moore extremely important. The only way Joh is moved is if the M’s know Johnson will be 100% by the time the season starts. I think Johnson is an OK back and that is what he should be—but his horrendous bat and terrible recieving skills (despite the Seattle lovefest with him) cannot be put out there every day as a starter. Any way you slice it you either get Johjima to go back to Japan or you trade Rob Johnson (assuming he is healthy). Possibly you could flip Johnson and Lowe for Brignac, it will fill needs for both teams.

    If I had a choice and lived in the real world I dont think Joh leaves SEA and he is a better hitter and possibly better defensively than Johnson as well so I am betting on a Joh/Moore platoon in 2010.