More on free agents

Currently, things are still up in the air for most of the agents Tigers are interested in. Starting with the domestic group - Uchikawa is certain to exercise his rights and almost certain (according to press speculation) to leave BayStars. Tigers are in with a good chance here.

Negotiations between Lim and Yakult are stalled on the amount of money on the table and whether the third year of the contract on offer will be optional or guaranteed. Expect this one to remain a long shot - Lim has much stronger links with the Yakult organisation and realistically is not likely to join Tigers unless something goes drastically wrong with the Swallows. Even then one would expect him to favour the Giants rather than the Tigers.

Kobayashi is thought to be wanting to exercise his international free agency option and go to MLB. Tigers do not have much chance here.

Matsui will stay in America if he can. Tigers have not made any noises recently about pursuing him and really from most angles going after Uchikawa would be better for them. Certainly on a cost basis Uchikawa will be much cheaper.

Kuroda is also likely to stay in the US (US press indicate the Mets as a likely destination). Hiroshima are also known to be interested in luring him back to Japan and there would be a question mark over his contract rights.

Uchikawa is the prize here... with him manning the outfield at Koshien, the Tigers lineup would become even deeper than it was last season, with a realistic shot at every starting position player hitting .300 (assuming Murton plays a corner spot and Asai takes over in centre). Couple that with Sekimoto, Kanoh and Kodai coming off the bench on the right side and Kanemoto, Lin and Hiyama from the left and you have a pretty scary hitting team.

I'm less concerned about a pitching FA since we're basically improving over last year by one #1-quality starter in Iwata. A rotation of Iwata-Nohmi-Kubo-Standridge-Akiyama, with Andoh, Futagami and Tsuru to spot-start, would be solid if not spectacular. All this team needs to go from good to dominant is one front-of-the-rotation ace.

Has Kanemoto been signed for next year or is he still pondering retirement? Any updates on Murton and Brazell?

Kanemoto has had his second round of negotiations with Tigers. They want to keep him on but are rumoured to be offering him a salary of around 300 million yen - a reduction but still very attractive. Both Murton and Brazell will be asked back next year - Tigers are going to take the option of Murton's second year and Brazell will be offered a new contract. Randy Messenger is also going to be asked back for another chance.

Sounds like things are going smoothly. Of course the one person I didn't want back--Mayumi--has already signed a two-year extension. But if our pitching stays healthy and the batting is anywhere near as good as this year, hopefully even he can't screw things up. An epic Japan Series is finished, so now the long wait until spring training.

About Kuroda, why would there be a question about his contract rights? If he came back to Japan, wouldn't he be a true free agent? I believe he left as a free agent, not through the posting system, so was just a little confused about that.

Kuroda when he decided to re-sign with Hiroshima signed a three year contract with a get out clause which allowed him to leave Hiroshima before the end of the contract as long as he didn't sign to a Japanese club. He exercised this option to go to MLB after one year but it is uncertain whether the remaining two years of the Hiroshima contract would come into play if he returned to Japan.

Have the Tigers even scheduled a meeting with Uchikawa? Sounds like his meeting with the Hawks went really well, so hope we still have a chance.

I have heard nothing at all and I don't think they have. The omission is unbelievable given that Tigers have just signed a second rate catcher - they didn't even try for Hosokawa. On another note Lim has just become available - he has failed to agree terms with Swallows. A long shot but one worth pursueing.

Actually, I think Lim would be a better signing than Uchikawa. We are fine in the hitting department. It's the pitching that I think could use more support. Kubota is inconsistent and Kyuji is amazing but still a problem in the big games. Additionally, he will bolt to MLB first chance he gets. Our bullpen could use some help.

Yakult captiulated and so Lim is almost certain to sign with them for his preferred 3 year deal. That was a very shot window of opportunity but I always thought Lim was a long shot.