A total of 1.5 billion yen for 5 years + volume contract “if FA next year is normal”
Seibu infielder Sosuke Genda, who is expected to acquire the rights to the national FA next season, signed a five-year contract on the 26th with an annual salary of 300 million yen, an increase of 110 million yen next season and a total of 1.5 billion yen plus sales volume (the amount is an estimate). In Seibu, there is a constant outflow of the main force due to the FA, and Tomoya Mori, a regular catcher who acquired the national FA rights this season, has also moved to Orix. GM Hisanobu Watanabe, head of the organization, is deeply moved.
“Free agency is next year, but I really want him to stay, so I offered him a multi-year deal a year early. I think that’s normal,” GM Watanabe said. “He IS a key player in defense, and if he misses that point, it becomes difficult for the team. I think he understands my feelings too,” he said with a sigh of relief.
GM Watanabe was manager for six years until 2013, after which he became senior director in 2014 and has been involved in team organisation. In 2019 he assumed his current title. “Gen-chan was the ninth hitter when he was an amateur (at Toyota Motor Corporation). Hitting was secondary and I thought he would improve if he made it to the pros. He was a player who only won defensively.” To be honest, I didn’t think I could maintain a stable batting average of around 20% and 7 minutes. The professional waters are good, the coaches are good and the players who have only seen shots before the left can shoot. I’ve been watching for a long time and I feel like I’ve become a player so far,” he recalled. Genda will turn 34 in the final year of his five-year contract, but GM Watanabe gives his stamp of approval, saying, “I’m fine. I think there is still room to grow after that.”
Seibu’s outflow to other teams (including the United States) from FA reaches 20 people, the highest number of 12 teams, including Mori this year. After GM Watanabe moved to ringside, pitcher Takayuki Kishi (currently Rakuten), infielder Eito Asamura (currently Rakuten), catcher Ginjiro Sumitani (currently Rakuten), and outfielder Shogo Akiyama (currently Hiroshima) left they went. It cannot be said that he is rich in funds and is in a difficult position. “They all grew up in Seibu, so from my point of view, of course, I want to play with them until the end. It’s a team that is progressing in a place where opportunities are created and young people grow, so I want to look forward without thinking only about things negative.”
On the other hand, it is also true that the number of successful detention cases is increasing little by little. In this off-season, infielder Shuta Tonozaki, who acquired FA national rights during this season, has opted to stay on a four-year deal. In the 2020 off-season, God Guardian pitcher Tatsushi Masuda signed a 4-year deal, outfielder Takumi Kuriyama signed a 3-year deal, and infielder Takeya Nakamura signed a 2-year deal last year. GM Watanabe nodded: “I am very grateful. There are various conditions, including the financial aspect, but to put it simply, I wonder if the sincerity has been conveyed. “He is however not optimistic about the future. The next big issue is how to retain infielder Hodaka Yamakawa, the main gun who is expected to acquire the National FA rights next season.
(Hirohisa Miyawaki)
