Yanks may not be the only team in the City of New York, having the town rivals New York Mets hovering around, However, the Bronx Bombers know how to out pace them and the rest in the MLB, may it be on the turf or otherwise - The transfer window is open and all the teams are out there alluring the movers towards them in the preseason transfers. Kei Igawa’s name was the most prominent in the transfer market with all recognized sides biding for the player.
The New York Yankees out powered the other-sides and won the bidding for the Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa when the Hanshin Tigers accepted Yanks offer of $26,000,194. The 27-year-old will have to compete for the spot in the Bronx Bombers rotation next season behind Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson and country mate Chien- Ming Wang.
The Japanese pitcher is excited about the bid and said at a news conference in Osaka,
“The Yankees are a team with a lot of tradition, they get a lot of media attention, like the Tigers do. I was surprised to hear the team bid that much for me, and I feel like today I’ve taken another step toward realizing my dream.”
Igawa is a talented player and has had a very successful career playing eight seasons for the Hanshin Tigers with an 86-60 record and 3.15 ERA. The Yanks have the opportunity to begin the negotiation process with Igawa’s agent Arn Tellem and have the time until midnight of December 28 for the same.
