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$36M Nets Ace
September 16, 206: Marshall Islands -- Last spring, Krill GM Ron Collins signed a $21M check and netted starting pitcher Takashi Nakamura to a single season deal that spoke volumes. Today, with the Krill on the edge of securing a position in the postseason, Collins is signing another check with Nakamura's name on it, this one for $36M. The difference is that this time the pitcher has agreed to stick around for as many as four seasons.
"I like it here," Nakamura said. "I think this team can win for years ahead, and the clubhouse atmosphere is great. My wife and I love the place. I think when I retire I'm going to buy an uncharted Island and set up shop." The 33-year-old righthander is only 11-11 this season, but he's settled down to register a 3.85 ERA and a 3.89 FIP (87 FIP-). His deal will pay him $8M a season for four years, the last being an option that Nakamura holds. Pundits had come to the conclusion that signing the ace for the long term would likely be a priority after Jon Brown's labrum injury set him down for the rest of the year. That uncertainty changed the dynamic.
"In the old days, maybe the team would have let him walk and taken the possible compensation pick, but the new rules make that an untenable situation," said Forever Land Sport Network's Misty Morgan. "With Brown's recovery uncertain, the team couldn't let the rotation fall apart."
If Nakamura executes that last year, the deal will run him through age 37.
September 16, 206: Marshall Islands -- Last spring, Krill GM Ron Collins signed a $21M check and netted starting pitcher Takashi Nakamura to a single season deal that spoke volumes. Today, with the Krill on the edge of securing a position in the postseason, Collins is signing another check with Nakamura's name on it, this one for $36M. The difference is that this time the pitcher has agreed to stick around for as many as four seasons.
"I like it here," Nakamura said. "I think this team can win for years ahead, and the clubhouse atmosphere is great. My wife and I love the place. I think when I retire I'm going to buy an uncharted Island and set up shop." The 33-year-old righthander is only 11-11 this season, but he's settled down to register a 3.85 ERA and a 3.89 FIP (87 FIP-). His deal will pay him $8M a season for four years, the last being an option that Nakamura holds. Pundits had come to the conclusion that signing the ace for the long term would likely be a priority after Jon Brown's labrum injury set him down for the rest of the year. That uncertainty changed the dynamic.
"In the old days, maybe the team would have let him walk and taken the possible compensation pick, but the new rules make that an untenable situation," said Forever Land Sport Network's Misty Morgan. "With Brown's recovery uncertain, the team couldn't let the rotation fall apart."
If Nakamura executes that last year, the deal will run him through age 37.