Yankees win rights to Igawa

Ronald Blum, Associated Press

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees won the bidding for Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa when the Hanshin Tigers accepted their offer of just more than $26 million on Tuesday.

Igawa, a 27-year-old left-hander, could compete for a spot in New York’s rotation next season behind Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson. Carl Pavano, coming off 1 ½ seasons of injuries, also would be in the rotation if healthy.

New York has until midnight at the end of Dec. 28 to work out a contract with the pitcher’s agent, Arn Tellem — also the agent for Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui.

"We have been following Kei Igawa’s very successful and accomplished career in Japan, and we are excited about the opportunity to begin the negotiating process with him," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement.

The Yankees pay Hanshin only if they reach an agreement with Igawa.

"I am very pleased to have the right to sign him for the Yankees," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement issued by spokesman Howard Rubenstein.

The Boston Red Sox bid $51.1 million earlier this month to win the right to negotiate with Seibu Lions pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic. The Red Sox have until midnight on Dec. 14 to agree to a deal with Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras.

The Yankees bid between $32 million and $33 million for Matsuzaka.

After the bidding on Igawa closed Monday, the Tigers were informed of the amount of the high bid, but not which team made it. The New York Mets bid between $15 million and $16 million for Igawa, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity because the amounts of losing bids are not disclosed.

Igawa went 14-9 last season with a 2.97 ERA in Japan. He struck out 194 to tie for the Central League lead, adding to the strikeout titles he won in 2002 and 2004.

Igawa, the Central League’s 2003 MVP, has an 86-60 record with a 3.15 ERA. He would have to play in Japan for three more seasons before he could become a free agent.

Also this month, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won the rights to Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura of the Yakult Swallows with a bid of about $4.5 million.