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Hanshin relenting on Igawa's major league hopes
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OSAKA, Oct. 31 Kyodo
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The Hanshin Tigers softened their stand on key rotation pitcher
Kei Igawa's hopes of pursuing a career in the major leagues when they
opened off-season business talks on Tuesday.
Senior team director Shoji Numazawa said after a meeting with
Igawa that Hanshin will ''consider discussing'' the left-hander's
request within the organization in a change from the firm stance the
Central League club had shown on the matter.
''We need to hear opinions from inside this club coupled with
the voices of Tigers fans, and our team plans for the future also
have to be taken into consideration,'' Numazawa said.
On Tuesday, Igawa made it clear that his desire to pitch in the
major leagues has remained strong since Hanshin turned down his
request to ply his trade in North America through the posting system.
''I just believe they will give me the okay this time,'' the
three-time Central League strikeout leader said.
Igawa went 14-9 in the 2006 season with a 2.97 earned run
average. He struck out 194 to tie Chunichi Dragons right-hander
Kenshin Kawakami for the league lead, adding to the strikeout titles
he won in 2002 and 2004.
Major league clubs present sealed bids for Japanese players
under the posting system, which is effectively the only way for Igawa
to make a major league switch this off-season. The 27-year-old needs
to play in Japan in at least three more seasons before becoming a
free agent.
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