Lions select Utsumi from Giants as compensation for loss of Sumitani

The Saitama Seibu Lions made their move on Thursday when they selected Tetsuya Utsumi as compensation for Ginjiro Sumitani. By taking the player compensation option, the Lions will also receive ¥44 million in cash.

Utsumi, who will turn 37 in April, has been a long mainstay of the Yomiuri Giants. In his 15 year career, Utsumi has pitched 140 innings in nine of those seasons. Most recently in 2018, he went 5-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 82 innings of work through 15 ichi-gun games.

For his career, he has a total of 133 wins with a 3.21 ERA. He was originally a Jiyu waku draft pick of the Giants in 2003, where teams were able to forego the first round in order to sign a player they really wanted.

By taking an aging veteran, he doesn't come cheap as he'll make ¥100 million in 2019. He is also slated to be a free agent after the 2019 season, but for the Lions, he would require compensation as he's expected to be a Type B free agent based on their payroll among Japanese players.

Utsumi is a short term fix as the Lions have felt the need for left-handed pitching. In 2018 alone, Utsumi becomes the third left-handed pitcher picked up by the Lions from a Central League team, where the first two were Daiki Enokida (via trade) and Ryuya Ogawa (via "trade" of cash considerations).

On paper, Utsumi can help the rotation right away, but being at age 37, he won't have upside or a long career with the Lions. While his role diminished in favor of other pitchers with the Giants, He'll have a full opportunity to win a starting job, as Enokida is the only other LHP from last season penciled in the rotation.

The Lions are also hoping he can serve as an extra mentor to the younger inexperienced pitchers who still need to contribute to the ichi-gun.

内海すきですか?

Do you like the #seibulions pickup of Tetsuya Utsumi? #巨人@64Uni_Lions @creamall

— Graveyard Baseball (@GraveyardBall) December 20, 2018

We've conducted a poll on Twitter and vote if you're able to. Among Lions fans, it feels like people are expecting Utsumi to only last for one year, then go back to the Giants in free agency. If that happens, we'll be playing this compensation game all over again.

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