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Seibu's Nakamura shown the money, Wakui holding out
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TOKOROZAWA, Japan, Dec. 15 (19:26) Kyodo
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Seibu Lions slugger Takeya Nakamura re-signed Tuesday for a
salary of 150 million yen, up 80 million yen from 2009.
However, Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui, this year's Sawamura
Award winner, is holding out for more money after turning down the
same club offer of an 80 million yen pay raise that would bring his
earnings to 200 million yen in 2010.
Nakamura, who played third base and was a designated hitter,
batted regularly in the cleanup spot for the first time this season.
He hit 48 home runs to lead the Pacific League for the second year in
a row and had a league-high 122 RBIs.
''Cleanup is the heart of the order, so I put a lot of pressure
on myself. I'm glad my efforts were recognized,'' Nakamura said.
The 26-year-old Nakamura had a chance to reach 50 homers before
he was sidelined through injury near the end of the season.
''Next year, I want to try to take part in all 144 games and
work toward maintaining my health,'' he said.
The 23-year-old Wakui, who went 16-6 in 27 starts, led the
league in wins for the first time in two years. He had 11 complete
games, four of them shutouts and earned the Sawamura Award, Japan's
equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
''The ace pitchers from other teams have gotten more. I want
them to acknowledge the significance of the Sawamura Award,'' said
Wakui, most likely referring to Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish.
Darvish, who is the same age as Wakui, became the youngest
player in Japanese baseball history to reach the 300 million yen mark
when he re-signed for 330 million yen earlier this month. He went
15-5 with a league-best 1.73 ERA in 23 starts. |
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