Boston Dirt Dogs is reporting that Gabe Kapler has signed a one-year, $2 million contract to play with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan.

 

From Rotoworld and Boston Dirt Dogs site. Not sure if true but didn't see that one coming.

Why not? Plently-o-cash and he'll be a great player there.

LoL if he wants to he wants to. Go for it.

Kevin Millar style

 

but why this early?

Kevin Millar style

 

but why this early?

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not really Millar style since Millar didn't want to go to Japan. Kapler is choosing to go there.

i dont know about you guys but i rather me making less and not playing as much but being in MLB than getting paid more and starting in Japan..

Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler has signed a one-year contract to play with the Yomiuri Giants as reported on the Boston Dirt Dogs website earlier today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the contract was believed to be worth $2 million plus an undisclosed signing bonus according to a report published on several online Japanese news outlets.

 

Kapler said he and his family are excited to go to Japan and he is eager to show his "energetic" playing style according to translated reports from Japanese newspaper websites. The report said that Kapler ?has won a world championship in the U.S., now he wants to become a champion in Japan.?

 

The report also states that "(Kapler is) the type of player who will answer Giants Manager (Tsuneo) Horiuchi's desire to strengthen the "Center Line" of defense with his wide range of defense and strong (throwing) shoulder."

 

Kapler, known for his aggressive and gritty effort in the field and on the basepaths, played in 136 games with the Red Sox in 2004, batting .272 with six home runs and 33 RBI. The seven-year veteran earned $750,000 last season.

 

Prior to joining the Red Sox in 2003, Kapler began the 2003 season with the Colorado Rockies and appeared in 39 games before being optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on June 4. Kapler played in 10 games with Colorado Springs, hitting .200 (6-30), and was released on June 20. Four days later the Red Sox signed him.

 

He made a sensational debut with on June 28, 2003, going 4-5 with three RBI against the Florida Marlins. In his second start with Boston, Kapler continued his torrid hitting, going 3-4 with two HR, three runs scored and four RBI.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds..._japanese_team/

i dont know about you guys but i rather me making less and not playing as much but being in MLB than getting paid more and starting in Japan..

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Agreed. Adapting to Japanese culture and the language deal must be pretty dificil, but in the end it's all about $, at least in Kapler's eyes.

Gaijin are treated like s*** in NPB. For some guys who can't hold a ML roster spot like Tuffy Rhodes it's their only option to play, but for a guy like Kapler it doesn't make too much sense.

someone should tell kapler that the yomiyuri giants are the yankees of japan