Mariners closer Sasaki wants to stay in native Japan
SEATTLE -- Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki told the team Monday he will not pitch for Seattle in 2004, deciding to forfeit the final year of his contract and remain with his family in Japan.
The Mariners' career saves leader, who turns 36 on Feb. 22, would walk away from up to $9.5 million by not playing for Seattle next season.
"It's a personal situation," agent Tony Attanasio said. "He wanted to stay home with his kids. Last year, he did not have his kids with him and his wife. He had to have that, and he left a lot of money on the table."
Attanasio said Sasaki may pitch in Japan next season but "he will not pitch again in the United States."
In another move, the Mariners agreed to a $14.5 million, three-year contract with right-hander Joel Pineiro, one of the team's workhorses.
The 25-year-old Pineiro, who had been arbitration, set career highs with 211 2/3 innings, 151 strikeouts, 32 starts and 16 wins in 2003. He went 16-11 with a 3.78 ERA, throwing two shutouts.
The deal includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. Pineiro will earn $2.5 million next season, with his salary escalating in the final two years.
Pineiro had a career-long eight-game winning streak from June 16 to July 31, which included 19 2/3 scoreless innings from July 21-31. He also had a five-game losing streak when the Mariners slumped in his five August starts.
In three major league seasons, Pineiro is 37-20 with a 3.38 ERA.
Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said Sasaki's intentions became clear in the past four to five days. He refused to say what the next step will be.
"I'm not going to get into it," Bavasi said. "There's just too many variables that I'm not certain about. It's going to involve the agent, the player, the club, MLB, you name it."
He said the team would try to "accommodate" the request but cautioned that as of right now the contract remained in effect.
"He is reserved to us, just like everyone else on the 40-man roster," Bavasi said. "As of today, he will report to camp with pitchers and catchers. On the other hand, we know his position and we will try to accommodate him."
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| Kazuhiro Sasaki is the Mariners' all-time saves leader with 129.(AP) |
He broke two ribs, reportedly in a fall while carrying his suitcases up a flight of stairs at home. Relegated to the disabled list, he lost his job as the team's closer to Shigetoshi Hasegawa.
The Mariners signed Eddie Guardado, who saved 41 games for Minnesota last year, in the offseason.
Sasaki was the highest-paid player on the Mariners last season at $8 million, which he was due to make again in 2004. He was the AL's rookie of the year in 2000, when he had 37 saves.
The team holds an option for 2005.
Sasaki joined the Mariners after 10 seasons with Yokohama in Japan. He was named to the AL All-Star team in 2001, when he set a Mariners record with 45 saves.
His 129 saves over the past four seasons are a team record.
With Sasaki sidelined last year, Hasegawa became the star of Seattle's bullpen. He converted 16 of 17 save opportunities and finished with a 1.48 ERA that was a team record for a reliever.
When Hasegawa signed a two-year, $6.3 million contract last month, manager Bob Melvin said he was committed to making Sasaki the closer again and using Hasegawa wherever he was needed.
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