Last month, the Tampa Bay Rays signed Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (筒香 嘉智) to a two-year contract for $12 million. Tsutsugo will have 30 days to negotiate a contract with an MLB club, meaning ET Dec. 19 to negotiate with Tsutsugo, who turns 28 on Nov. 26.Under the agreement reached between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball after the 2017 season, the posting fee to Yokohama will be 20% of guaranteed money in a major league contract through $25 million, plus 17.5% above that through $50 million, plus 15% over that.
LF Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, Tampa Bay Rays (Two years, $12 million, $2.4 million posting fee) Tsutsugo’s deal came in a bit beneath what Kiley predicted on the Top 50 Free Agents post (Kiley had two years at $8 million per), where we ranked him No. That posting fee will be tied to the agreed-upon contract. Despite some of the contact issues he endured before play was paused, hopes remain high for Tsutsugo, who's also caught manager Kevin Cash's eye with his defense at both third base and left field.The 28-year-old started the first two games of the season and went 1-for-8 with a two-run home run, but he'll take a seat for the series finale. Really, really good job overall," Cash said. Just how many at-bats he's set to receive may not become clear until the Rays' offseason moves are complete.Tsutsugo has been back in his native Japan over the last two months-plus, but he'll apparently be ready to take advantage of the valuable time summer camp will afford him from Day 1. Tsutsugo will have to make the usual adjustment to stateside baseball that other Japanese players have undergone, but the slugger is on record as stating he believes he'll only need the customary 40 exhibition at-bats he's traditionally logged during his career to be prepared for the regular season. Here's what MLB fans should expect, plus other names who may post soon. It’s worth noting that Tsutsugo’s 2019 season was his weakest of the past four (.272/.388/.511, 29 home runs) and saw his strikeout rate climb to 25.3 percent.From a payroll vantage point, the deal should be a manageable one for the perennially low-spending Rays, who shed about $7.7MM in swapping out Pham for Renfroe and placing Aguilar on waivers. Japanese Star Slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo Will Be Posted October 8, 2019, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs One of my favorite threads to follow in a given offseason is when a big-time star from Japan or South Korea might be/is posted to MLB.
He also looked solid in left field, hitting the cutoff man accurately on multiple occasions. That includes paying 20 percent of guaranteed money up to $25 million, 17.5 percent for promised cash between $25 million and $50 million, and then 15 … Tsutsugo had a team-high 13 strikeouts in Grapefruit League play, but he also drew three walks and laced both a double and a home run over 12 exhibitions. The league average is around .716, so he’s a stud at the plate. Opposing hitters batted just .105 against his curveball while also posting a whiff rate of 48.3 percent, per … Tsutsugo went public with his desire late last year, and the club has given its blessing and will make him available via the posting system, general manager Kazuaki Mihara said Monday night. Because he'll be traveling internationally, Tsutsugo could be subject to some sort of quarantine when he arrives in the United States, potentially putting him behind the rest of his teammates in preparation for the season restart. The slugger comes over from Japan after posting six straight seasons with an OPS of … Tsutsugo is certainly still in his prime, as he'll turn 28 later in November, though his ability to translate his success in Japan to the United States remains to be seen. He has a .285 average with 205 homers and 613 RBIs in 10 seasons with Yokohama.The MLB commissioner's office announced the posting on Monday.
Through six appearances this season, the 28-year-old is 5-for-21 with a home run and five RBI.Tsutsugo initially stayed in the Port Charlotte area after the pause in play was enacted, and he even subsequently extended his time stateside by securing a rental home within the St. Petersburg area. One of my favorite threads to follow in a given offseason is when a big-time star from Japan or South Korea might be/is posted to MLB.Tsutsugo, 28 next month, is one of the best hitters in NPB, posting a .900 or better OPS every single year since 2014 (OK, well, .899 this year). His best season came back in 2016, when he launched a career-high 44 home runs and slashed .322/.430/.680.
1. Whoever lands Tsutsugo will also have to pay a posting fee. The Rays will also have to pay Tsutsugo's former club, Yokohama, a 20 percent The Major League Baseball Hot Stove season is still several weeks away.