January 19, 2004
No Place Like Home
Kazuhiro Sasaki says he will not play for the Mariners this year, and will forfeit the $9.5 million he is owed for the season.
"It's a personal situation," agent Tony Attanasio said. "He wanted to stay home with his kids. Last year, he did not have his kids with him and his wife. He had to have that, and he left a lot of money on the table."
Attanasio said Sasaki may pitch in Japan next season but "he will not pitch again in the United States."
It looks like this makes Hasegawa the closer for the Mariners, unless Bavasi can convince Sasaki to change his mind.
U.S.S. Mariner has a very pragmatic view of this.
Update: Here's a translated interview with Sasaki.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:23 PM
|
Pitchers
|
TrackBack (0)
Don't forget the M's signed Eddie Guardado!!!
From a fan's viewpoint, I appluad him for his decision, I can understand it's tough to be away from your family for 1/2 of the during the year not to mention he was battling injuries last year. Family comes first for him and I've heard he'll sign with a team in Japan. Best luck to him, he'll deeply be missed in MLB.
Guardado is definitely the closer. I am 100% sure. Hasegawa goes back to set-up duty......as he would have been if Sasaki had pitched.