Iwakuma re-signs with Mariners

[terrisus]

After previously looking like he was going to the Dodgers

The Seattle Mariners have re-signed right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma after an agreement between Iwakuma and the Los Angeles Dodgers was never finalized.

Seattle announced the deal with Iwakuma late Thursday night, after general manager Jerry Dipoto delivered the news at the team's holiday party. The deal includes a one-year contract for 2016 and options for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Financial terms were not announced.

Iwakuma was a priority for Seattle in the offseason, but the Dodgers and Iwakuma struck a deal Dec. 6, a pact reportedly for three years and roughly $45 million.

However, the deal was never completed. A source told ESPN's Mark Saxon earlier Thursday that it was in jeopardy after the Dodgers reviewed Iwakuma's physical.

The Japan-based Jiji Press first reported Thursday that the Dodgers were backing away after the physical.

The medical issue revealed by the physical is not yet known.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Jon Heyman Verified account ‏@JonHeymanCBS
Iwakuma gets $1M sign bonus, $10M 2016 salary plus $1M buyout on club options in '17 and '18. $12M guaranteed. #mariners

Jon Heyman Verified account ‏@JonHeymanCBS

Iwakuma has club options for 10M but '17 option vests at 14M with 162 IP in '16 and at $15M in '18 at 162 IP in '17 or 324 in 16-17

He'll get 3/43 if he doesn't get seriously injured

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

Unless some significant body part is already falling off, that's a great deal for Seattle.

 

[terrisus]

Yeah, have to wonder what the physical showed, since that's a huge bargain for the Mariners, and a huge drop-off in guaranteed money from the Dodgers' deal.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Unless some significant body part is already falling off, that's a great deal for Seattle.

He's a 99 year old pitcher from Japan, where young pitchers are encouraged to throw meaningless bullpens at full strength to "show their fighting spirit!" (Gotta have Wa, after all.)

The options baked into the deal do pretty much all you can to mitigate that risk, but I doubt Kuma-san is going to take $43m to the bank.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Jon Heyman Verified account ‏@JonHeymanCBS
Iwakuma gets $1M sign bonus, $10M 2016 salary plus $1M buyout on club options in '17 and '18. $12M guaranteed. #mariners

Jon Heyman Verified account ‏@JonHeymanCBS

Iwakuma has club options for 10M but '17 option vests at 14M with 162 IP in '16 and at $15M in '18 at 162 IP in '17 or 324 in 16-17

He'll get 3/43 if he doesn't get seriously injured

I'm counting 3/40. Did you count the '17 option as $17M, or am I missing something else?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Misread '17 as 17, my bad