Johjima Signs with Hanshin Tigers

Former Mariner catcher Kenji Johjima signed with the Hanshin Tigers to a four year deal that will pay him a total of somewhere between $20 million and $30 million, depending on which source you believe and what the average exchange rate will be over the four year period.

Based on what other salaries are in NPB (the Japanese major leagues), I tend to think the two billion yen figure, which at current exchange rates would be $21.8 million, is probably the correct one.

Unfortunately for Hanshin Tiger fans, the team is probably making a mistake.  Johjima will be 34 in 2010, and given how hard catching is on the body, I will be surprised if he has more than two good seasons left out of the next four.  While Tad Iguchi had a strong year back in Japan in 2009, also at age 34, he’s not a catcher.

The best thing to be said about this signing is that Johjima is a big star in Japan, which can’t hurt at the gate.  Also, Johjima can help the Tigers if the rest of their roster is strong.

The Tigers have made it a habit to overpay for washed-up American players, like Lew Ford and Kevin Mench, the last couple of years.  After dumping Mench following a horrible start this season, the Tigers signed Craig Brazell, who by and large played well for the Tigers in 82 games.  The Johjima signing, however, suggests that the Tigers haven’t really learned their lesson.