Blue Jays sign Shun Yamaguchi from the NPB to a 2 year contract

[TheHurl]

They could do some creative stuff with Manoah and Pearson and who will be 22 and 23 on opening day. Roberto Osuna was less accomplished and 2 years younger when he became the Jays closer... so could these guys provide 100-120 good innings?? I believe Pearson essentially "opened" every second start... why not do something like that with these two??

 

Would it work?? If called up after the mid april service time deadline, would 100 innings still be a waste of service time ?? Would there be issues filling up all the innings if you use 2 roster spots on 100 inning "starter/openers"??

 

two words...Carson Fulmer. 25 and out of options but still shows flashes of "stuff" but you have to throw him in as your mop up guy or lose him. Don't rush your spects in seasons that don't matter.

[EMK19]

So with Shun its 2 years 6.35 mil, no team options, 1.4 mil bonus if he racks over 170 innings.

 

I only saw him for a bit in the Premier 12 tournament, didn't exactly impress vs. Korea in the finals... but seems a solid swingman type signing.

[Dr. Dinger]

You need to relax. Even Casey Mize, 1-1 from 2018, only reached AA last year.

 

Even if Manoah develops well as a SP he probably only spends part of 2020 in AA in the first half in Dunedin. If everything goes swimmingly there is a chance at a 2021 debut depending on the MLB situation.

 

Casey Mize got hurt, there was talk he would debut soon prior to that.

[Laika]

Casey Mize got hurt, there was talk he would debut soon prior to that.

 

Doesn't really change anything. He probably wouldn't have debuted but look at every other college SP from 2018:

 

Gilbert - reached AA in 2019

Singer - AA

Bubic - A+

Lynch - A+

Kowar - AA

McClanahan - AA

Rolison - A+

[Ehjays]

So with Shun its 2 years 6.35 mil, no team options, 1.4 mil bonus if he racks over 170 innings.

 

This brings up a good question, do we have 6 years of control or is he a free agent after 2 years.

[TheHurl]

This brings up a good question, do we have 6 years of control or is he a free agent after 2 years.

 

Most of the Asian contracts allow the player to be a free agent after. Nori Aoki I know was granted free agency after his contract. If you look at Tsutsugo on Cot's it says that he is a free agent after 2021. Ohtani never got a major league contract and he will go through the same system as any baseball players.

 

Give it a few days and Cot's will have details.

[glory]

This brings up a good question, do we have 6 years of control or is he a free agent after 2 years.

 

[glory]

 

 

[Laika]

Did not expect him to have a perm and a mustache

[max silver]

I am intrigued to see how Yamaguchi's stuff translates to MLB. I wonder what his trajectory will be? Will he start in the bullpen like Marco Estrada and become a key linchpin in the rotation? Will he resemble Koji Uehara and become a top-notch reliever? Or does he get hammered and end up getting released, only to return to Japan?

[wilko]

Did not expect him to have a perm and a mustache

 

He looks like an Asian Mr. Potato head!

[Maico450]

He looks like an Asian Mr. Potato head!

 

Imagine him coming into the bottom of the 9th, attempting to close the game out. He stares in at the batter, who erupts into a fit of laughter, and forfeits the game.

[Krylian]

He looks like an Asian Mr. Potato head!

 

Does he sound like Don Rickles?

[bzapple]

I've always felt like he was going to be the type they use for 3-4 innings after Font opens, but hopefully he can hold his own as a starter seeing as most of our pitchers are either made of glass or have a decent chance of being terrible.

[EMK19]

I am intrigued to see how Yamaguchi's stuff translates to MLB. I wonder what his trajectory will be? Will he start in the bullpen like Marco Estrada and become a key linchpin in the rotation? Will he resemble Koji Uehara and become a top-notch reliever? Or does he get hammered and end up getting released, only to return to Japan?

 

He did close for 4-5 years earlier in his career so he should be familiar with relief/pressure duties. Back then he threw with a higher arm angle and bit more velocity (92/93 mph) but eventually lowered his arm angle and started relying on his splitter more as a starter. So if he becomes more of a reliever maybe he could go back to his old style and have better chance at success. His splitter is good though not at Uehara’s level IMO.

 

While he hasn’t impressed me greatly over his NPB career he initially did have high potential, he was once ranked higher than Kenta Maeda but then had elbow/back troubles and has been up and down. But his flexibility makes him a good asset for us and I do believe he’ll be reasonably effective, at least early on.

[Captain Adama]

[Brownie19]

Did not expect him to have a perm and a mustache

 

He looks awesome.

 

Also, I see comment of the year is already wrapped up for 2020.

[Beans]

"As I got older, I started thinking about showing my butt (in public), so I think that's why," Yamaguchi said through a translator Wednesday, prompting laughter from reporters at his introductory press conference at Rogers Centre.

 

... this guy's going to be a lot of fun!

[Deadpool]

"As I got older, I started thinking about showing my butt (in public), so I think that's why," Yamaguchi said through a translator Wednesday, prompting laughter from reporters at his introductory press conference at Rogers Centre.

 

... this guy's going to be a lot of fun!

 

I'm not sure if context makes this quote funnier or not... But his dad was (is?) a professional Sumo wrestler, who was apparently quite good, and this was in response to why he didn't want to get into the family business...

[DigitalRock]

[KennerKid]

Couldn't find a ton in the way of a scouting report on him. Who is a good comp for him, has anyone seen?

[Spanky99]

https://jballallen.com/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/profile-shun-yamaguchi/

[paulinmontreal]

Obviously don't know too much of this guy.

As a fan, i'd hope this is a guy going to the Bullpen? Should be a solid arm in there.

Not convinced he's going to walk into the rotation. Really hope the Jays don't see him as a viable starter.

[wilko]

Obviously don't know too much of this guy.

As a fan, i'd hope this is a guy going to the Bullpen? Should be a solid arm in there.

Not convinced he's going to walk into the rotation. Really hope the Jays don't see him as a viable starter.

 

Why not?