Shigetoshi Hasegawa
Posted by Steve L. on November 2nd, 2005 · Comments (3)
From the AP:
The Seattle Mariners declined their options Tuesday on reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa and shortstop Pokey Reese.
Hasegawa pitched in 46 games last season, going 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA. The Mariners turned down a $3.1 million option to bring him back for a fourth season with the team. Instead, the right-hander receives a $325,000 buyout.
He’s no spring chicken. But, Hasegawa has been a decent RP every year in the major leagues here – with the exception of 2004. And, in his defense, the M’s as a whole were terrible that season.
If he’s willing to take a one-year deal to play in New York, say, for two million or so, I wouldn’t mind taking a flier on the guy.
I’d like for the Yanks to pick him up if only to hear Bob Sheppard announce his name.
Are we going onn the assumption that, despite all the flowery words about youth and paring the payroll, Torre will only use people like Colter Bean and Jason Anderson over his dead, dead body? Who was it who said right-handed relievers are a dime a dozen? $3.1 million for a middle reliever who can’t get you a big strikeout sounds like a waste of a whole lot of dimes.
you can find relievers who are just as effective, if note more, for cheaper than 2M/yr.