2020 NPB Trade Deadline: Possible candidates to send away

 

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There is always one dark day in the sports world. Unfortunately, entering the second half of any baseball season means the time will be ticking on certain players with their respective teams. While some will reach free agency, others will be let go and not offered a contract for the following season, better known in Japanese as senryokugai. 

This year's NPB trade deadline is on September 30 and while the trades and transactions are minor, every team needs to start thinking ahead at who could be gone soon. The NPB Draft takes place in October while the regular season is still ongoing, but it's usually a hint at when senryokugai lists are announced for each team in order to make room for the new players taken. 

Putting yourself in the General Manager's shoes, some players need to show life or their careers in NPB could be over. In North America on this kind of day, players are always reminded and even telling the media "it's a business" when they're sent packing via trade, cut or being released. 

As with usual in NPB, trades mostly happen because teams don't know what to do with the player they have, hoping to acquire cheap depth or find a change of scenery for the individual. They're often expendable. 

For those reading in Japan, this is not a hit piece for any players who may not have been good, but it's a warning to project who could be gone from the Lions after the 2020 season concludes. We have also provided an update for all foreigners under contact, which is always a year-by-year case. Ikusei players will not be listed here. 

Here are the players who could be sent away by trade or senryokugai:

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Shunta Nakatsuka: Once a second-round draft pick in 2016, he was thought to have major upside with his velocity and size for a pitcher. He had control problems and it still lingers today. The upside is likely gone as he turns 26 this December. He'll be remembered as someone who had potential and showed it with the Melbourne Aces in Australia through strikeouts, but can't crack the ichi-gun due to the number of walks. Recently, he was called up this week for the first time in two years. Could they be showcasing him? It's an uncertain future. 

Shota Takekuma: A veteran who has been with the Lions since 2007, he fell out of favor in 2018 and has mostly been a spot starter or mop up pitcher since. Takekuma was a solid left-handed option out of the bullpen in the past and even earned setup innings, but it's unlikely he'll ever return to form as he sits off the ichi-gun roster today. He was last seen taking low leverage innings. 

Makoto Aiuchi: Aiuchi was recently banned by the team for violating COVID-19 rules. However, Aiuchi has been a repeat offender for multiple infractions with the law in the past from driving without a license to smoking underage. He saw a total of 21 ichi-gun games from 2014, 2016-2019 where it has mostly been spot starts. While he nearly got a win in one outing, he's now 26 and others have leapt him on the depth chart. 

Koki Fujita: His career started out slow due to an injury and skipping the entire 2016 season as a result. A 9th round draft pick in 2015, he has only seen ni-gun games and has played four of them in 2020. He turns 23 in December, but it isn't unheard of to part ways to someone that age, as Isamu Sato was there previously. 

Tsubasa Kokuba: Kokuba played 15 ichi-gun games and stayed on the roster to finish 2019. However, he couldn't build on that momentum in 2020 and has a 9.90 ERA in only 10 ni-gun innings. With other relievers beating him in competition, he could be on the outside as he turns 27 this December. 

Shogo Noda: Noda had meaningful innings in the Norio Tanabe era and was thought to be a lefty specialist. His ichi-gun time has dwindled since 2019, where he only reached 19.2 innings and is on pace to see fewer in 2020. In one of his games this year, he allowed inherited runners to score all while failing to be a threat. Currently 27, there is likely better left-handed options. 

Daisuke Matsuzaka (Retirement): After being let go by the Chunichi Dragons, Daisuke Matsuzaka signed with the Lions this past winter hoping for one more ride. He just turned 40 this past month and has been injured, something that hurt his career since being with the Boston Red Sox. He'll be hoping for one retirement ceremony game in October or November as a farewell to baseball. It's unlikely he's nothing more than a spot starter for the Lions if healthy. 

Hitoto Komazuki: Komazuki was a converted outfielder who switched to catcher starting in 2017. He spent majority of the 2019 season as the emergency third catcher due to his lack of hitting. Last year, recorded his first and only career base hit to date, but has spent the 2020 season in ni-gun. With Sena Tsuge emerging as a better option and Daichi Nakaguma possibly getting promoted from ikusei, there's a chance Komazuki is the odd man out being the second oldest on the roster. 

Yuto Morikoshi: The former Chunichi Dragon and Hanshin Tiger was signed by the Lions this winter and it's likely Hatsuhiko Tsuji remembered him from his time in Nagoya. Thought to be a defensive substitute, but he has failed to crack the ichi-gun all season, which isn't a good sign for someone who is 32. Nien Ting Wu, Masato Kumashiro, Kakeru Yamanobe and Daichi Mizuguchi have received more playing time as depth options. He's older than all of them. 

Kyohei Nagae: Arguably one of the best defensive players on the Lions, his role diminished the moment Sosuke Genda was drafted. His inability to his has cost him any chance at ichi-gun playing time as he's only useful as a replacement player. Like Morikoshi, others have been playing on the infield in front of him on the depth chart. Nagae is 27 years old and was drafted by the Lions out of high school in 2011. 

"Aito" Takeda: Once drafted out of Hanasaki Tokuharu high school, Aito has failed to play an ichi-gun game in 2020 with Wataru Takagi, Seiji Kawagoe and Shohei Suzuki all passing him on the depth chart. It's possible he's fallen out of favor after playing 42 games in 2019. 

Daichi Mizuguchi: Mizuguchi was the first ikusei player in Lions history to play in an ichi-gun game. While he's currently on the ichi-gun at the time of this writing, he's just a defensive substitute and pinch runner for depth. Yamanobe is a younger option and depending on how the draft goes, the Lions could find another infielder to take his spot. He's on the bubble given he turned 31 this year. 

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Free Agents:

Tatsushi Masuda: Masuda has been the closer of thee Lions having a stable role from 2019-2020 after an off 2018. Instead of taking the multi-year option, he signed a one-year deal in the offseason, earning domestic free agent rights. It's likely he wants to test the market and see what he's worth no matter what the Lions offer in negotiations. There's a good chance he'll get a multi-year offer before he exercises his domestic free agent option, but it won't matter. He wants to see a bidding war and given the track record of the Lions valuing pitchers, his chances of staying don't look good. There will be compensation for the Lions if they lose him in free agency. 

Masato Kumashiro: Kumashiro earned domestic free agent rights earlier this year and has mostly been a reserve outfielder since 2014. He's versatile enough to be a defensive substitute and spell player, but can't be starting on a regular basis. There's no idea if Kumashiro wants to leave or not, but it's not like he'll get offers the way Masuda will. Regardless, the Lions will be in good shape with or without him in the event he exercises his domestic FA option. 

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Foreigners: 

Stats are reflective of 2020 ichi-gun numbers through September 21

Zach Neal (3-6), 5.18 ERA: Neal is under contract through the 2021 season after he signed a two-year deal right before he left Japan in 2019. He doesn't need to worry about this situation for another year. 

Cory Spangenberg .283/.332/.527, 11 HR: Spangenberg was humbled through July and adjusted well since the beginning of August. His biggest concern was the walk rate, but his OBP has gone above .330, making it very likely he's on pace to earn another contract in Japan. It doesn't hurt he's had multiple hero interviews and his defense at 3B has been solid when the Lions lost Takeya Nakamura to injury. 

Reed Garrett (3-2), 3.69 ERA, 16 HLD: Garrett had an invincible first month and looked unstoppable in July. However, August was the beginning of his demise where his pitches became flat and he wasn't missing bats. While he can throw 100 mph, it's a cautionary tale that control and command are also important as opposing hitters have begun fouling off anything fast he's thrown. As a result, he's been playing pinball on the mound and became a pitch to contact player. 

Garrett lost his setup role on September 5 when he was already struggling to allow at least one or two batters on base per game. In that outing during a tie game scenario, he loaded the bases and gave up a three-run triple to Haruki Nishikawa to lose the game. Garrett has been in mop up duty since and if the season ended today, he would likely not return for 2021. 

Ernesto Mejia .248/.310/.530, 9 HR: Mejia began the year in ni-gun and was offered a team-friendly contract to stay around for 2020. Spending 2019 as a true bench player, his 2020 has already featured more home runs, starts and at-bats than last year. 

Recently, he's been playing first base with Hotaka Yamakawa not healthy and for what his salary is, Mejia has been worth every yen. It's possible Mejia was brought back for being a great locker room guy with his relationship being fine with everyone around. It's possible he'll be a Lion for life and could be working for the organization when his playing days are over. 

Sean Nolin (1-2), 7.08 ERA: Nolin didn't play an ichi-gun game until nearly the halfway mark to the 2020 season. He won his debut in Sendai with a good start and followed it up with another decent outing in Sapporo. However, his last two games have been forgettable. For now, Nolin is on the fence depending on what happens. It's a classic wait and see approach. 

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Outlook: 

There's currently 67 players under contract on the 70-man roster with five others being ikusei. With the 2020 NPB Draft happening in October, which occurs during the regular season, teams could be making senryokugai announcements shortly after it. Usually the final week of the regular season is the beginning of this dreaded news. Expect at least five domestic players being let go with possibly more depending on the draft. 

In terms of trades, it's also unlikely, though the Rakuten Eagles just acquired D.J. Johnson for a cash purchased from the Hiroshima Carp. 

If I'm the Lions, I would call Eagles GM Kazuhisa Ishii and try to offer someone on this list in exchange for Louis Okoye. Since taking over at GM, Ishii has shown no attachment to inherited players by making the roster his own. From picking up Ren Wada, Yuya Fukui, Stefen Romero, Daichi Suzuki, Hideto Asamura while also and sending away Zelous Wheeler and Yuhei Takanashi, they've made plenty of transactions. 

Okoye is only 23 and has played zero ichi-gun games in 2020, leeading to believe his chances of making an impact in Sendai are all but done. Others are ahead of him on the depth chart and Ishii has no attachment to Okoye since he didn't draft him. With Okoye's ties to Saitama prefecture and possible depth needs in the outfield, there's a chance he can benefit from a change of scenery while the Lions can market his connection to the area. 

Don't expect any trade to happen, but be ready for a few senryokugai announcements next month. 

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2020 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Hamaya earns first win

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 3-3 this week against the Chiba Lotte Marines and Orix Buffaloes. They sit in fifth place of the Pacific League, only 1/2 a game behind the Fighters for fourth. 

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Game 1: Kona Takahashi vs. Ayumu Ishikawa

Takahashi dug himself a 2-0 hole when Seiya Inoue and Yudai Fujioka had timely hits in the second inning. After a third timely hit from Hisanori Yasuda, the Lions looked like they'd lose trailing 3-0. 

However, Wataru Takagi hit his 2nd career HR in the 7th and Yuji Kaneko had a timely hit in the 8th when the Marines left Ishikawa in the game too long. With Frank Herrmann pitching and the tying run on third base, Cory Spangenberg took the first pitch he saw into the RF stands for a two-run HR. Tatsushi Masuda had the tying run on second base, but closed out the game with a strikeout of Shohei Kato on full count to give the Lions a comeback 4-3 wi. 

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Game 2: Shota Hamaya vs. Kazuya Ojima

Hayama went six innings with only one run given up on a timely from Shogo Nakamura in the sixth inning in his first career start. He struck out three batters and allowed only four hits. The day belonged to Takumi Kuriyama, who went 4-4 with a solo HR and timely hit to make most of the Lions offense. This one finished with the textbook 7-8-9 bullpen lineup of Ryosuke Moriwaki, Kaima Taira and Tatsushi Masuda having clean innings, not allowing a base runner for the rest of thee night in the Lions third straight win.  

For Hamaya, his first career start was also a victory. 

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Game 3: Tetsuya Utsumi vs. Daiki Iwashita

Leonys Martin hit two HRs and Utsumi had no chance going only four innings for the night. On offense, the Lions couldn't score off Iwashita until the 9th inning, when Sosuke Genda had a timely hit. This ended in an 8-1 defeat. 

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Game 4: Zach Neal vs. Taisuke Yamaoka

Neal allowed five runs to score in three innings and the Lions couldn't recover from it. Steven Moya hit a two-run HR and that summed up this game in a nutshell. Taisuke Yamaoka allowed a chance in the first inning, but recovered only allowing two runs through six innings in an 8-2 laugher. 

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Game 5: Sean Nolin vs. Sachiya Yamasaki

The game was tied 1-1 in the top of the 6th inning when Sosuke Genda hit a sacrifice fly, but Nolin struggled in the bottom of the frame. He loaded the bases and had five walks. With Tetsu Miyagawa pitching, Aderlin Rodriguez hit a two-strike double in LF to score two runs. Orix pulled away off Reed Garrett to make it 6-1. Takumi Kuriyama hit a two-run HR in the 9th as a consolation, but it was already too late. 

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Game 6: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Andrew Albers

Matsumoto gave up three solo HRs to Moya, Ryo Ohta and Hayato Nishiura as he dug himself a 4-0 hole through five innings. The Lions came back and got two runs through a two-run HR by Hoktaka Yamakawa off Albers. In an unlikely fashion, the bases were loaded with a chance for Tomoya Mori in the 8th inning, as he was pinch hitting for Masatoshi Okada. It worked to perfection as he hit the wall from a pitch off Ryo Yoshida for a 5-4 lead. The 7-8-9 combo of Moriwaki, Taira and Masuda had no trouble closing this one as the Lions had another .500 week. 

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In another disappointing week, the bats weren't good enough and neither was the pitching from both imports when facing Orix. Close any thought of postseason baseball as this Lions team has too much to overcome. 

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2020 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Takahashi earns a shutout

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The Saitama Seibu Lions had a 3-3 week against the Orix Buffaloes and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. At one point, they were in sole possession of fourth place, but currently share that position with the Fighters with a 33-37-2 record.  

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Game 1: Kona Takahashi vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Takahashi threw a complete game shutout and nearly no-hit the Orix Buffaloes for his fifth win of the year. It was his fifth career complete game. With some great defense behind him and Masatoshi Okada catching, he had eight innings without allowing a hit and one walk, facing the minimum number of batters up to that point. 

Pinch hitter Masahiro Nishino broke up the no-hit bid with a single up the middle. Even with base runner in a tight 2-0 game, Kona Takahashi still earned the shutout for the third of his career. On offense, the Lions manufactured a run with a bunt and RBI groundout from Okada in the 5th inning. It was followed up with Sosuke Genda stealing a base and Hotaka Yamakawa getting a clean timely in the 6th. 

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Game 2: Tetsuya Utsumi vs. Daiki Tajima

The Lions scored nine runs in the first two innings off Tajima to make this game a laugher. Cory Spangenberg, Sosuke Genda and Shuta Tonosaki each had modashos to put this one away. Utsumi allowed four runs through four innings and was replaced by Ken Togame in the 5th, who went 3.1 innings, earning his first win in his first ichi-gun game of 2020. With a 13-5 win, the Lions took their fourth consecutive series. 

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Game 3: Katsunori Hirai vs. Daichi Takeyasu

Hirai was lit up for five earned runs and the Orix Buffaloes won a 12-4 laugher. Takumi Kuriyama helped score two runs early on, but thee Buffaloes pulled away with the Lions making their own self inflicting mistakes. This game was capped off by Adam Jones reaching a milestone of 2,000 career combined hits between MLB and NPB. Cory Spangenberg hit his 10th HR in the 6th inning as a consolation. 

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Game 4: Zach Neal vs. Matt Moore

Moore allowed two runs and three hits through seven innings in what was a pitcher's duel. Neal allowed first blood with two runs in the third inning, but the Lions tied the game in the top of the 4th when Ernesto Mejia hit a two-run HR. Neal was unable to get a shutdown frame and gave up a solo HR to Alfredo Despaigne to make it 3-2. He was an unlucky loser in this one as the Hawks didn't allow a hit for the remainder of the game in a 4-2 loss. 

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Game 5: Sean Nolin vs. Shota Takeda

The Lions couldn't stop Hiroaki Takaya as the Hawks cruised to another easy win. Takaya hit a three-run HR and a timely single for the team's first four runs and Yurisbel Gracial hit a HR. Nolin was knocked out after three innings as a result. Takumi Kuriyama, Hotaka Yamakawa and Wataru Takagi each hit a HR, but the Lions already trailed 7-0 when it happened. It was the first career HR for Takagi as a consolation. Yamakawa hit his 150th career HR. 

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Game 6: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Shunta Ishikawa

Shuta Tonosaki hit a solo HR on the second pitch of the game and that was all the scoring in this matinee. Matusmoto went seven innings and continued to strand runners throughout the night, including a bases-loaded situation in the 7th. While he allowed doubles and gave up base runners, he got the ground ball when necessary. Kaima Taira had minimal issues in the 8th, but Tatsushi Masuda had the game-losing run on second base with the tying run on third. A strikeout and a foul lineout ended this one in a 1-0 victory for the Lions, ending a three-game skid. 

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At .500 for the week, it's not bad, but obviously not good. Better than being swept in Fukuoka and with the starting pitching having some good outings, it's an encouragement from Neal, Takahashi and Matsumoto. Let's hope they can continue to push forward even though it's unlikely they'll see postseason baseball. 

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2020 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Utsumi earns first win

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 4-2 to complete a 9-game road trip with the Chiba Lotte Marines and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. They currently sit in 5th place of the Pacific League. 

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Game 1: Kona Takahashi vs. Yuta Omine

Takahashi had 6.1 no-hit innings and the Lions cruised to an easy victory. Omine played his first ichi-gun game since 2017 and was recently promoted from an ikusei contract, but turned back the clock to some lean years of his career. Sosuke Genda had a modasho and Hotaka Yamakawa hit a 3-run HR to break this game open early. It was Takahashi's second outing with seven innings as thee Lions won 9-1. 

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Game 2: Tetsuya Utsumi vs. Kazuya Ojima

Both pitchers did not allow a hit through four innings and conceded two each in the fifth. The Lions scored first on a throwing error from Leonys Martin. Fumikazu Kimura made it 2-0 on a solo HR ii the seventh inning, but drama came in the bottom of the frame. After Utsumi had five successful shutout innings and Ryosuke Moriwaki struck out eh side in the 6th, Kaima Taira walked in a run during the bottom of the 7th. 

Tetsu Miyagawa came in with an inherited bases-loaded situation and struck out Katsuya Kakunaka as well as forcing a groundout from Shogo Nakamura to end the threat. Yusuke Azuma gave the Lions just enough insurance in the top of the 8th, when he walked in two runs with full count pitches to Kimura and Sena Tsuge. Both Reed Garrett and Tatsushi Masuda struggled, but only allowed one run in the 9th for the Lions fourth straight win by a score of 4-2.  It was Utsumi's first career ichi-gun with in a Lions uniform. His previous ichi-gun win with the Giants came in 2018 and it took 733 days to get another. 

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Game 3: Katsunori Hirai vs. Daiki Iwashita

Hirai dug himself a 2-0 hole, but Yuji Kaneko tied the game in the 5th with a two-run HR. The bottom of the 5th is where the disaster began, when Martin his a solo HR to give the Marines the lead for good. After Hirai loaded the bases, Hiromasa Saito couldn't clean up the damage and gave up several hits afterwards, leading to his deactivation the following day. The Marines and Lions traded runs afterwards as the latter lost 8-5. 

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Game 4: Zach Neal vs. Toshihiro Sugiura

Tomoya Mori hit a two-run HR and Hotaka Yamakawa had a three-run HR to give the Lions a simple win. Neal went 5.1 innings, scattering eight hits with his defense doing work behind him. Cory Spangenberg, Fumikazu Kimura and even defensive replacement Masato Kumashiro made key plays to keep the Fighters off base. This 6-2 win was Neal's first victory since July 17. 

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Game 5: Sean Nolin vs. Kohei Arihara

Nolin went six innings, but had a no decision as the game was tied 2-2 through seven frames. Arihara was able to go eight innings as the Lions bats were mostly stifled minus a home run from Ernesto Mejia. The biggest problem came in the bottom of the 8th, when Reed Garrett loaded the bases and gave up a bases-clearing triple to Haruki Nishikawa, ending any hope of a Lions win as they lost 6-2. 

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Game 6: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Drew VerHagen

Matsumoto had early damage with two runs conceded, but the Lions came back on timely hits from Shuta Tonosaki and Sosuke Genda. They took the lead in the fourth inning when Masatoshi Okada recorded his first hit of 2020. Matsumoto successfully went six innings and scattered his hits and walks to prevent further damage. 

With Garrett's struggles being amplified, the Lions used Ryosuke Moriwaki in the 7th, Kaima Taira in the 8th and Tatsushi Masuda in the 9th to finish the job as the Lions took the series with a 4-2 win. 

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With a 4-2 week and a 6-3 road trip adding the series from Sendai, the Lions showed they're not completely done compared to Orix, who at one point dropped to 20 games under .500. There's still work to do, but at least they didn't give up and pitched better. 

This was a week that may have poked the bear on Reed Garrett, where the team finally had enough of him pitching in the 8th inning. Let's hope Moriwaki continues a strong season and the Lions hit better. 

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