Comments on: A’s and Hisashi Iwakuma unlikely to work out a deal http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/05/as-and-hisashi-iwakuma-unlikely-to-work-out-a-deal/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:55:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: apbaguy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/05/as-and-hisashi-iwakuma-unlikely-to-work-out-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-95409 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:06:29 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29539#comment-95409 I don’t agree that the A’s were blocking here. I mean, who cares if Seattle had an interest? They are no threat next year with their lack of offense.

On the other hand, Beane did have a price in mind when he bid. And Iwakuma felt he deserved a much higher price. But reality for Japanese starters suggests that a lower risk pricing strategy is wiser.

Finally, the A’s trade of Mazzarro strongly suggests the A’s fully expected to have Iwakuma in their rotation next year.

]]> By: mtner77 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/05/as-and-hisashi-iwakuma-unlikely-to-work-out-a-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-95406 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:30:40 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29539#comment-95406 A lot of people in the PNW feel that this was simply a blocking move by Oakland. They knew that Seattle had great interest in Iwakuma. With the M’s past history with Japanese born players, they would probably have had little trouble signing him either.

Since the posting fee is refundable if you do not sign the player, the A’s knew that they simply had to over-bid on the posting fee and then offer a rediculously low contract that the player would never sign. They had no intention of signing Iwakuma, but this way their division rival doesn’t get him and it didn’t cost the A’s a dime. MLB needs to look into how the posting fee system works.

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