Mariners Strike Japanese Gold...Again.

[love_that_reefer]

SEATTLE -- Catcher Kenji Johjima and the Seattle Mariners agreed Monday to a $16.5 million, three-year contract.

Johjima will be the first Japanese catcher to play in the major leagues. He visited Seattle Nov. 11-14 and met with Mariners executives. He also toured the city to assess its suitability for his family.

"He's going to sign with Seattle. They're announcing it today," agent Alan Nero said. "They favorably impressed him."

Nero said a news conference likely would take place Tuesday in Fukuoka, Japan.

Johjima's decision was first reported Monday by The Seattle Times. His deal allows him to earn an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses over the three seasons.

Seattle did not immediately confirm the agreement.

The Mariners' most famous Japanese player is All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. He criticized the team this month in a Japanese newspaper for lacking leadership and direction.

An All-Star for the Fukoka SoftBank Hawks, Johjima became a free agent on Nov. 8 after hitting .309 with 24 homers and 57 RBI in 116 games in a season cut short by a broken left leg. He has seven straight Gold Gloves.

Seattle may now choose to deal Yorvit Torrealba.

Johjima was considered one of the top free agent catchers on the market this winter along with Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sounds like another Joe Mauer type player. More merchandising for the M's overseas.

[HollywoodLeo]

Does Jojima speak English? And if he doesn't, how is he going to communicate with the pitching staff?

[Providence A's]

he'll tell Ichiro! and Ichiro! will tell his translator...seriously though, this helps, but unless they get some better pitching, I don't see them being serious contenders for the AL West or the Wild Card...

[MarinersFan87]

He's been taking english lessons since last season. He won't be fluent, but I'm sure all he is learning is what he needs to communicate with the pitchers.

[Kingdom]

How old is he?

[MarinersFan87]

29 Iirc.

[DirtyKash]

Does Jojima speak English? And if he doesn't, how is he going to communicate with the pitching staff?

Kaz Sasaki didn't speak English at all, he was alright.

[HollywoodLeo]

Kaz Sasaki didn't speak English at all, he was alright.

yeah, but he was one pitcher, and a relief pitcher at that.

The catcher has to be able to communicate with the entire pitching staff. It's actually a legit concern if Jojima hasn't learned English (which I guess he's been taking classes)

[DirtyKash]

If all else fails, he can always lift one finger for fastball, two fingers for curveball, three fingers for changeup, four fingers for slider, etc. And I'm sure he knows how to say "high", "low", "inside", "outside", "pitch out", "bean that guy on the asscheek", etc.

[MarinersFan87]

Just wondering, but do guys like Bengie Molina speak much english? Plus, there are tons of starting pitchers in the league that can't speak english, so they probably can't communicate with their catchers like they should. Also, don't forget that there are plenty of American and Latino players in the NPB.

[DirtyKash]

Bengie Molina is fluent in English. He went to some Arizona Community College.