Cubs Re-sign Munenori Kawasaki
It was initially reported as a rumor by Japanese media earlier in the week, but Baseball America is now confiming that the Cubs have indeed re-signed INF Munenori Kawasaki to a 2017 minor league contract. He will almost certainly receive a NRI to Spring Training.
Now 35, Kawasaki spent twelve seasons in NPB (the Japanese major league) with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, hitting 294/345/378 with 267 SB in 1,145 NPB games 2000-11. He was an eight-time NPB All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove winner, he led the NPB in stolen bases once, and was a member of Team Japan in the WBC in 2006 and 2009. He was also a fan favorite, one of the most-popular players in Japan.
Kawasaki became an unrestricted free-agent after the 2011 season, and was signed by the Seattle Mariners in December 2011. Over the past five seasons with Seattle, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Cubs, Kawasaki has logged more Plate Appearances in AAA than he has in MLB, hitting a combined 237/320/289 in 276 MLB games (738 PA) and a combined 255/346/312 in 233 AAA games (815 PA). He hit 255/352/312 in 102 games at AAA Iowa in 2016, almost matching exactly his AAA numbers from the previous four seasons. He is what's known in baseball as a high-contact small-ball slap-hitter (no power, a good bunter, and tough to strike out).
Although he is no longer the player he was in Japan, Kawasaki is still an outstanding defender at SS, 2B, and 3B, and he still runs very well, too. "Moonie" (as he is known) also is a very funny man, keeping his teammates and the media in stitches with his dancing, one-liners, and hilarious interviews.
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Kawasaki will likely serve as the utility infielder (SS-2B-3B) at AAA Iowa in 2017, and because he is an outstanding defensive shortstop, will probably get first-call if anything happens to Addison Russell or Javier Baez. However, Kawasaki is out of minor league options (he had a 4th mnor league option available in 2016, and it was spent), so if the Cubs add Kawasaki to the MLB 40-man roster at some point in 2017, he can't be sent back to the minors without first passing through waivers, and he can elect to be a free-agent if he is sent outright to the minors after being added to the 40. So it won't be quite as easy for the Cubs to move Kawasaki up from Des Moines to Chicago and then back again to Des Moines as it was last year.
Also, Kawasaki is an Article XX-B player, so he will receive a $100K retention bonus if he isn't added to the MLB 40-man roster by Opening Day, and he will also receive an automattic June 1st opt-out if he isn't added to the 40 by 6/1. Last year, the Cubs got around that by releasing Kawasaki and two other Article XX-B players signed to minor league contracts (LHRP Manny Parra and OF Shane Victorino) five days prior to MLB Openng Day and then re-signing each of them to another (different) 2016 minor league contract without the Article XX-B rights. (An Article XX-B player gets the $100K retention bonus and automatic 6/1 opt-out only if he signs a minor league contract at least ten days prior to MLB Opening Day, so by releasing Kawasaki, Parra, and Victorino and then re-signing them to a new 2016 minor league contract five days prior to Opening Day, the Article XX-B rights no longer applied).
Recent comments
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Dolorous Jon Lester 11 hours 26 min ago (view)
Lame. He was intriguing
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crunch 13 hours 35 min ago (view)
cubs release matt dermody...he's heading to japan.
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Cubster 20 hours 6 sec ago (view)
The Jared Porter story gets worse and does involve the Cubs...
"The Jared Porter situation is equally a Cubs and a Mets problem. The Mets need a new GM. The Cubs need to reevaluate themselves as an organization.
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Cubster 22 hours 49 min ago (view)
and they are including amusement tax, healthcare costs (Doc Adams doesn't come cheap!), social security and political donations to the City and the Governor of Nebraska.
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bradsbeard 23 hours 14 min ago (view)
It all depends what you count as "payroll." If you include the $11M in Lester and Descalso's buyouts plus the $3M sent in the Darvish trade you get to somewhere like $145M. If you include the $15M in estimated share of player benefits, you get to $160M. I think that last year, including player benefits, they were slated to be up around $205M for MLB payroll before the pandemic.
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crunch 1 day 8 hours ago (view)
not sure, but i think it's around 130-135m right now even with bryant/baez/contreras still on board...including the 3m to set darvish free and other random $$ expenses on the roster.
tack on another 3-4m for happ when that gets settled....plus other odds/ends that have a chance to make the roster (s.miller, a.morgan, j.holder, etc) and other pre-arbitration guys...
cubs still need someone to back up contreras (if he sticks around, which i wouldn't be surprised to see him stick around)...not sure if taylor gushue is gonna be that guy and m.amaya is too young.
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George Altman 1 day 9 hours ago (view)
Seriously, what's the 2021 payroll number? Currently at approximately $165M and after they trade Bryant, Baez, & Contreras - $130M. Is that it, $135-140M.
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crunch 1 day 9 hours ago (view)
Q to the angels...supposedly 1/8m
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crunch 1 day 18 hours ago (view)
pete ricketts (the governor of Nebraska ricketts) is a key part of an anti-gambling Nebraska group called "Gambling With The Good Life" that actively lobbied their open legislature...including a speech by pete...to keep gambling illegal in Nebraska.
he last spoke for the group to the state government in-session 3 months ago.
...it's also worth mentioning all of this is separate from the Draft Kings/Wrigley Field deal that flew under the radar toward the end of the season that will put a sportsbook directly in wrigley field, itself.
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Charlie 1 day 19 hours ago (view)
Of all the things, why does this most make me want to punch
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Cubster 2 days 1 hour ago (view)
I thought the Cubs had lost a rising star in Porter, seems the just got lucky with him leaving the organization.
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crunch 2 days 8 hours ago (view)
jared porter...damn dude...mets gm, ex cubs director of scouting...
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crunch 2 days 12 hours ago (view)
cubs freeing up that chatwood + lester loot sure did help...wait...sigh.
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Cubster 2 days 12 hours ago (view)
Plus Chatwood signing w Bluejays is done.
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crunch 2 days 13 hours ago (view)
...and done. 1 year deal with a mutual option.
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Cubster 2 days 14 hours ago (view)
Dolorous in discussions with the Washington Schwarbs.
Comments
Love it!
Thanks PHIL.
I don't understand why teams
manny ramirez is going to
Probably angling to try to
Not happening, all he did was
Warm you up on cold day
An 18-month prison sentence
Cubs Likeablitlity Factor
Cubs Up Likeablitlity Factor x1000
@MaryAnnAhernNBC Breaking: Confirmed! Cubs to White House Monday before #ObamaFarewell
Fuck off Trump!
Ha! Lifelong Sox fan. Total
This is not a political site,
I dread the last eight. So
Len and JD signed a new
"Joe Maddon wrote down a
"Joe Maddon wrote down a lineup today for the first time. With a righty on the mound he had Kyle Schwarber leading off followed by Bryant, Rizzo and Zobrist. He emphasized it's a January lineup."
Does anyone still think Jay
Schwarber, Heyward, Zobrist
Schwarber, Heyward, Zobrist (LF, CF, RF)
Bryant, Russell, Baez, Rizzo (3B, SS, 2B, 1B)
Contreras (C)
That's my guess on the most common lineup, which with Maddon is maybe 60% of the time. Bryant, Rizzo and Russell see 150+ games, Heyward maybe if he finds his groove. Zobrist sees a few more days off as he's getting older but still in the 140 range with Baez. Guessing Jay gets in around 110 games.
Guessing they'd really like some more SP soon or maybe they're counting on some of the Iowa guys to be ready by mid-season or spring training cuts. Guessing they'd like to see a few stints of a 6-man rotation to curb innings considering last year's playoffs and hopefully another run this year.
on that note...Maddon just
on that note...Maddon just benched Baez :)
@CarrieMuskat Here's the rest of Maddon's January #Cubs lineup: Schwarber, Bryant, Rizzo, Zo, Russell, Heyward, Contreras, Jay or Almora, pitcher.
Maddon also said he's considering having the pitcher bat 8th again to help set up Schwarber with more RBI chances. #Cubs
Rob G -- I think/hope the
Suppose with losing Fowler
Suppose with losing Fowler they wanted a left-handed bat...doubt Szczur is a Cub this year. Jay's a reasonable CF insurance with Almora if Heyward doesn't get it going. Sounds like the plan is for Baez to be a bench guy to start season but I just doubt that lasts too long.
Regardless, we know how quickly things can change and injuries and Maddon will use them all.
You guys keep saying you
The Cubs strongly value depth
You guys keep saying you
You guys keep saying you wonder why they went after Jay since there's no room in the lineup.
I don't recall saying or thinking that. He makes sense as a CF some of the time, maybe a lot of the time depending on how things play out. I don't know if Heyward will bounce back and I don't know who will get injured. He's there, he'll play...exactly how much will be determined. He hasn't gotten over 100 games in 2 seasons and he's 32.
more stuff from Maddon:
more stuff from Maddon:
@CSNMooney At Dabo Swinney's request, Joe Maddon filmed a Try Not to Suck video message for Clemson's football team before title-game win over Alabama.
There was a quote from Clemson quarterback after yesterday on Twitter we should all be familiar with, : "Don't permit the pressure to exceed the pleasure of the moment."
Also,
Maddon brushed off post-World Series griping from Montero and Chapman: “It’s unfortunate that they felt they had to discuss it that way..." Maddon expects to address Montero's post-parade interview on @WaddleandSilvy at some point: “I’m sure we’ll talk. Miggy likes to talk.”
Cubs White House Monday CSN
Former Cub great Matt Garza
"Cubs and RHP Justin Grimm
Tyson Ross signs with the
Tyson Ross signs with the Rangers...1 year deal.
I could understand a low base
I could understand a low base salary with mega-incentives for 2017 and a high-ticket club option with buy-out for 2018, but a reported one-year contract worth $6M guaranteed (plus incentives) and no second year club option for a pitcher coming off Thoracic Outlet surgery? Yikes!
Apparently starting pitching is really a "seller's market" right now.
teams have money to burn and
teams have money to burn and he'll be subjected to a QO if he's good. $6M is a set-up man in today's costs. Don't mind the Cubs passing up that offer, but it's not unreasonable for the upside it gets them.
That being said, not a lot of history of pitchers being themselves after Thoracic Outlet surgery so we'll see.
To your point: