"Newcomer" Hanshin to Shell out 3 Billion Yen
Discussion in the NPB News forum
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Re: "Newcomer" Hanshin to Shell out 3 Billion Yen
[ Author: Dragsfan | Posted: Jul 7, 2006 4:36 PM
| CD Fan
]
Is this a slap at Hankyu for selling the Braves? Talk about holding a grudge!
Re: "Newcomer" Hanshin to Shell out 3 Billion Yen
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Jul 8, 2006 10:03 AM
| HAN Fan
]
It's not so bad as the security deposit was already paid and accounted for. Hanshin are considering legal action and have a strong case, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
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NPB regulations apparently stipulate that a team forfeits its security deposit upon a "change of ownership."
Hanshin asserted at a meeting of NPB "owners" that its ownership had not effectively changed - it was still owned by Hanshin Railway. Perhaps the biggest mistake that Hanshin (the second oldest team in NPB) made was to assume that its 75-year history and standing would convince the owners to waive the 3 billion yen bill.
They were wrong. Apparently, Seibu and Hiroshima voted in Hanshin's favor, Yomiuri voted only for the forfeiture and not for the additional payments, and the rest voted completely against Hanshin. The club was reportedly miffed at being treated like a newcomer.
SanSpo quotes Hanshin "owner" Tsuneaki Miyazaki as saying the bill would not affect team finances, but goes on to speculate that the 3 billion yen would have a significant effect. It states that, in order to acquire the newly-FA Tomoaki Kanemoto from Hiroshima in 2002, Hanshin paid around 1.2 billion yen all told, and that for 3 billion yen, Hanshin could theoretically go on a shopping spree for people like soon-to-be-FA Hiroshima pitcher Kuroda.