Tribe Near Deal with Kobayashi

He definitely has his question marks.  This is the second Japanese reliever that the Tribe has been linked to.  Shapiro must have found a new inefficiency.

I like this alot. This guy is a healthy veteran with lots of experience closing games. He should be a dependable 7 inning level reliever.

This is good news. I'd guess we'd give him a 2 year deal with a 1 year team option at around 3.5M per year.

I can't wait for the hot dog promotions

I can't embed vids for the life of me, but I wonder if he can pitch like this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CUEtV7OENb4

Incidentally, doesm't this fill slot #40 on the roster after the rule 5 moves that were made?

Rotoworld:

With Hitoki Iwase off the board, Kobayashi was the best Japanese reliever available in free agency.

Well OK then.  And according to the YouTube video, he at least throws hard.

Comments from BP include "Kobayashi has been a dominating closer for the better part of seven and a half seasons, thanks in large part to a 98 mph fastball and powerful inside-out slider."

Meet your new closer?  It's a possibility.

Copy/paste from MLBTradeRumors:

It's been said that Kobayashi would prefer to close but it's not a dealbreaker.

Here's what Bob Bavasi of JapanBall told me about Kobayashi:

This closer was the number one draft pick by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1999.  He may be the best available reliever on the free agent market, though he has not made the sort of overtures about wanting to leave Japan as the other two.  During the recent playoffs in Japan, his manager, Bobby Valentine, noted that Kobayashi keeps "looking better every time out."  True enough, and a reason I like him.

And here's what Aaron Shinsano and Jackson Broder of East Windup Chronicle said about him:

Lost seven games and ERA rose nearly a point in 2007, but that shouldn't deter teams from pursuing this 200+ save closer for Chiba Lotte. Throws from the stretch, and has that deceptive delivery that scouts seem to like these days. Has a great forkball that often tails in toward the batter. Not as good as Iwase or Koji Uehara, but might just be an upgrade over, say, The Farns.  Tak adds that he was dropped to the "minors" at the end of the season and many feel his velocity and control are slipping.

Done deal.

Two years with an option for 2010.

Interesting note in the article:  Shapiro refers to him as "Masa."  Cool.

Without knowing just how good "Masa" is gonna be (I'd like to think Shap didn't wake up this morning and think "Let's sign some dreck to throw against a wall"), I like this move. Probably won't cost as much as a current MLB FA RP would (although I hope the apparent rush to exploit this new "market inefficiency" hasn't already driven Japanese reliever prices through the roof), and we give up no draft picks. Keen.

Has the "Does this mean no more dollar dog nights next year?" joke been made yet?

If not, consider it made.

I've never heard of this guy before now either, but it seems like a potentially important move.  It looks like he might have been one of the best relievers available.  Thumbs up on this one.

More relief pitchers that have potential to be very good relief pitchers?  Hey!  Key.  I'd love to get one more bullpen arm with some potential, just because you can never, never, never have a large enough Circle of Trust.

I honestly thought someone was making a joke when I read the diary title.