Mark Kotsay has inked a new deal with the Chicago White Sox on November 5th (15 days before he is slated to become a free agent and hit the open market).

According to RotoWorld.com (my #1 source for contract info), Kotsay and the Sox agreed to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract. This contract total was for the same amount that Kotsay made this past season. The thirty-three year old first baseman was acquired by the White Sox in a trade during the 2009 season with the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Brian Anderson.

Brian Anderson made near the league minimum in 2009 which is roughly around $400,000.

Papelbon is one of baseball’s top closers. He saved 41 games last season when he earned $800,000. He has 113 saves and a 1.84 ERA in 3½ seasons in Boston.

Papelbon’s ERA is the second lowest in major league history. He also is 2-0 with 7 saves in the postseason and hasn’t allowed a run in 25 innings.

In 2008, Youkilis hit .312 with 29 homeruns and 115 RBIs. Youkilis also won the Hank Aaron Award as the AL’s top offensive player; he finished third in All-Star voting.

Last season was Penny’s worst ever. He was on the disabled list for two months with shoulder tendinitis and bursitis. Penny went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA. Nevertheless, the BoSox were able to look past Penny’s unusual and disappointing performance and knew he was not a player to pass up on.

In nine years with both the Florida Marlins and the Dodgers, Penny was 94-75.

Penny can earn additional bonuses:

• $500,000: 160 innings or 55 games
• $500,000: 170 innings or 65 games
• $500,000: 190 innings or 35 games
• $1 million: 200 innings or 50 games

Last season with the Dodgers, Penny struggled with a shoulder injury, which is probably the main reason he went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA. In ‘07, however, Penny went 16-3 with a 3.03 ERA and was voted to the All-Star team.

In his nine year career, Penny is 94-75.

Pedroia will receive a signing bonus totaling $1.5 million and a salary of $1.5 million for ’09. Salaries of $3.5 million, $5.5 million, $8 million will be granted in what should be his three years of arbitration eligibility. Pedroia will also receive $10 million in both 2013 and 2014. The deal also includes a team option of $11 million in 2015 or the opportunity of a $500,000 buyout.

Last season, Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles. He batted .326 with 17 homers and 83 RBIs with 20 stolen bases.

With the recent report coming out of Boston that the Red Sox have agreed to a three year deal, worth about $3 million with Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, is it finally time to start paying closer attention to the impact of Asian-born players on America’s pastime?

There have been players including the likes of Ichiro, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideo Nomo, and Hideki Matsui to name a few, that all had immediate success within Major League Baseball.  With high profile teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees reaching deep into their pockets for young Japanese talent, and even the small payroll organizations like the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays looking to add a spark to their club’s lineup, it seems like major league organizations are willing to take a chance on far-east talent.

There is no rule that currently prevents major league teams from pursuing Japanese amateur ballplayers, however following Tazawa choice to forgo Japan’s draft, Japanese professional teams have reached an agreement that places a ban on players who attempt to return to Japan to play professionally once said players opt to play overseas.

Before agreeing to terms with the Red Sox, the 22-year-old flame thrower received attention from other major league clubs including the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers, but rejected their offers.  It will be interesting to watch the development of Tazawa and ultimately see what kind of impact he makes on Major League Baseball compared to Ichiro, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the other Asian-born players.

I also think it is worth noting that there will be many questions that arise as a result of these Asian players making an impact on American baseball.  Are major league teams going to look to Asia as the next Latin America in terms of talent?  What will happen as a result to the Asian professional leagues as more and more of their players come to America?  Is a team eventually going to go as far into looking to hire an Asian manager?

The Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa have come to terms on a 3-year deal worth about $3 million. Although not officially announced, the completion of a physical is the only hurdle left in the team’s way. BoSox officials hope to be able to announce the signing at this week’s end. It is reported that Tazawa received offers from the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and the Atlanta Braves. The Rangers are believed to have offered Tazawa more money than Boston, but it is clear that he prefers to take a pay cut and pitch for the Red Sox. The Boston Globe has reported that Tazawa has been signed to a major league deal, which means he has a reserved spot on the Sox’s 40-man roster. Nevertheless, team officials say he will start out in the minors.

Tazawa’s fastball has been consistently clocked in the low 90s; it is said that he has an excellent breaking ball as well as a decent changeup. Tazawa’s decision to opt out of the Japan professional league to come to the U.S. will prevent him from ever returning to Japan to pursue a baseball career on the island. Tazawa could be eligible for free agency in the fall of 2014 pending his ability to make the 25-man BoSox roster next spring.

Information from the Boston Globe and ESPN.com was used in this article.

Two major media sources in Japan have published contract amounts. Sankei Sports newspaper is reporting a $6 million deal while Nikkan Sports is reporting $3 million over 3 years; of course none of these amounts have been reported by the Red Sox or the MLB.

The only difference between Tazawa and Matsuzaka is that Tazawa played in an amateur league and has never played professional baseball.

Other teams reportedly interested in Tazawa are the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners.

• On October 31, 2008, the Boston Red Sox picked up Tim Wakefield’s 2009 option which cost them $4-million. In 30 starts in ‘08 Wakefield was 10-11 with a 4.13 ERA. Wakefield is working under a contract that allows the Red Sox to renew each year for $4-million.

• Bartolo Colon filed for free agency Friday. He is 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA.

• Curt Schilling declared himself for free agency. His surgeon told him that if he wants to pitch again, Schilling will have to let him know by December 1 in order to undergo serious rehabilitation to be back by mid season ‘09.

Just another quick note, John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez filed for free agency on Friday, also.

LET THE BIDDING WAR BEGIN!!

(Editor’s Note: I am in the process of putting together a rather large post on free-agency.  Look out for it later this week).