Seattle Mariners add starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma for one year – MLB News
After a long wait, the Seattle Mariners have finally taken the bold decision of signing a foreign player for their franchise as a future prospect and to be more influential in their division in the next MLB season.
Mariners’ management has signed Japanese starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma for a one year contract worth $1.5 million. Iwakuma’s signing with the Mariners has been done for different reasons.
Firstly, he has stayed almost four days in Seattle spending some quality time with the franchise’s general manager Jack Zduriencik during December. Secondly, during his time in Seattle, many other teams including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago
White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels also made potential offers to him but he chose the Mariners’ organisation to begin his Major League career.
Before signing the official contract, Iwakuma had a complete physical by the Mariners’ authorised medical experts. After signing the official document, Iwakuma and GM Jack Zduriencik both looked confident and passed their regards in the media.
Zduriencik said, “Iwakuma has been a highly successful pitcher in Japan. We look forward to his contributions, as he will be given the opportunity to be part of our rotation. I think that it serves both parties' best interests. I know that he wants to pitch
here in the US. I know he's enjoyed his short time here in Seattle. And I do think he would like to establish himself in the States and see what happens.”
Later, Iwakuma said, “Seattle really wanted to get me. That was the most important thing."
Last year Iwakuma was also linked with the Mariners but late in February some top management felt that he was too young to make a potential arrival in Major League Baseball. However, they decided that 2012 is the perfect year to have him debut in the Majors.
Since successfully signing a one year commitment with the team, his role as starting pitcher in the 40-man roster will be looked at closely by the entire Seattle Mariners franchise.
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