Finishing pitchers' runaway, Japan's highest annual salary of 11.34 billion won, and Cuban right-hander Japan Dream completed
Dec 10, 2024
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Right-hander Leidel Martinez (28), who became the Central League's save king this season, is expected to wear the Yomiuri Giants uniform. Japanese media quoted Francisco Romero, a reporter from the National Baseball Press Association, on social media on the 10th. Martinez is in negotiations with Yomiuri, it reported. Japanese media said Martinez will sign a two-year-$16 million (2.4 billion yen) contract with Yomiuri. Reporter Romero, who is well-versed in Cuban baseball, continued to report on Martinez, a Cuban national.
The Chunichi Dragons released Martinez, whose three-year contract ended on the 2nd, as a free agent. Martinez, who has an annual salary of 200 million yen this year, offered the best conditions, but failed to renew his contract. There was a big difference in amount from other teams that entered the recruitment race.
If Martinez signs at around 1.2 billion yen a year, it will be the highest salary ever in Japanese professional baseball. Previously, the maximum amount was 1 billion yen. Softbank Hawks right-hander Roberto Osuna (29) signed a four-year-4 billion yen contract in January. In addition, Cuban right-hander Rivan Moello (29) of the same team signed the contract earlier this year on the condition of receiving a total of 4 billion yen for four years starting next year.
Coincidentally, the highest salaries are foreign relievers.
Mexican closer Osuna is a former major league save king. During the 2022 season, he moved to Chiba Lotte Marines and left a strong impact. He pitched in 29 games, recording 4 wins, 1 loss, 10 saves, 9 holds, and an ERA of 0.91. He moved to Softbank the following year, posted 26 saves and 12 holds, and signed a four-year long-term contract. Instead of returning to the Major League, he chose to stay in Japan.
Monello joined Softbank in 2017 and threw as an intermediate pitch, before switching to a starter this year and succeeding. He ranked first in this category with 11 wins and a 1.88 ERA.
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Martinez, who was throwing in the Cuban League, moved to Chunichi in 2018 and achieved a Japan dream. He has 114 saves and 166 saves in total over the past three years.
In recent years, Yomiuri has set up a team without recruiting outside FA. This year, it goes in a different direction. It ended in failure, but he actively sought to recruit Yusuke Oyama (30), the fourth batter of the Hanshin Tigers.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
