October 11, 200719 yr Japanese players are still restriced to service years correct? Common sense says yes, but looking at the contracts they get I wonder. It's obviously a weird situation. I'm going with yes but I just wanted confirmation if anyone 100% knew.
October 11, 200719 yr Yes they are, but almost every contract includes a provision of waiving service requirements upon the conclusion of the deal if it is for less than 6 years. As was the case with Matsui and the Yankees after his initial 4 year deal expired.
October 11, 200719 yr Author Johjima should be a really sought after commodity this winter, considering how weak the FA catcher class is. He doesn't have a provision like that (atleast, according to Cotts, which isn't going to be 100% accurate....but going with that assumption) and he only had a three year contract which ends after '08. They have Clement who's obviously MLB ready, and if you trade for Jojima you get him for atleast 4 years (Last year of contract plus three of arbitration) even if you can't sign him to an extention. Given most Japanese contracts I've looked at have some kinda provision like Matsui's though, deffinatly have to wonder if Cotts just doesn't know about one in Johjima's contract...or maybe Johjima just has a sh*tty agent, haha. Then again, this is SEA we're talking about...they'll probably either keep Clement in AAA or trade him instead of Johjima.
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