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Thoughts on foreign baseball players making their move to the states:

Every year there seems to be at least one big name foreign baseball player who makes his move to the US to play Major League Baseball. Some are prominent stars from their homeland, such as Japanese players Ichiro Suzuki, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Hideki Matsui, and others are intriguing prospects such as Cuban Aroldis Chapman, a recent defector who has scouts drooling.

But how will the new economic landscape effect baseball teams and their interest in foreign players? In a climate where almost every team except the Yankees lost money last year (I think), will we ever see another offer like the one the Red Sox gave for Matsuzaka (51 million to Matsuzaka’s former team, the Seibu Lions, and another 50 million through contract)? Could anyone again offer over 100 million for one player?

So far, either by circumstance or by economic necessity, the answer is no. Since the end of the 2009 World Series, the biggest import as been relief pitcher Ryota Igarashi, who signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets for $3 million. Before signing with the Mets, it was reported the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Mariners and the Indians were also interested in Igarashi.

But the Mets’ acquisition is regarded as only having potential as an “effective late inning” pitcher, hardly a game-changer. And three million dollars is relatively chump change for major league teams. What about players who can significantly add wins to a major league team?

I wonder if it is possible that fewer baseball player will consider coming to America if they know they will be offered less money. If a ballplayer is paid well in Japan, how much is enough to compensate their move and cultural adjustment? Will the prestige of playing in America carry less weigh if the pay is less?

Whereas most players that come over from Japan are established, many that come from Cuba are not. Many are prospects who immediately latch on to an agent in the hope of being signed based on their raw skills. These players are far bigger gambles for Major League teams. In this new economy, I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of teams considering foreign projects is shrinking or will shrink considerably (with the exception of the Pittsburgh Pirates, of course, who, for whatever reason, signed two Indian game show winners last summer).

(Note: I know the financial landscape in Japan is far different from that of Latin America. Baseball players leave Japan for the challenge of playing in the states. They leave Latin American countries for far different reason, to include freedom and economic prosperity. But, regardless of the reason, for major league organizations, both types of players are investments.)

The new economic landscape could also see organizations committing to either the domestic amateur draft or foreign scouting and development. Currently, teams both sign college and high school players and have academies and scouts in places such as South America and the Caribbean. The acquisition of both types of players require sunk costs. Domestic amateurs require large sums up front, and could fetch the type of contracts reserved for established major leaguers. The recruiting, training, development, and eventual signing of foreign born players is more of a long-term cost but is a larger financial commitment. Could we see some teams committing exclusively to foreign development and skimping on the domestic draft or vice versa?

A few years ago on TheSeriousTip, I tore apart a suggestion by a close-minded baseball fan that teams shouldn’t sign or develop foreign players because they are taking jobs away from good ol’ American baseball players. I wonder if the letter-writer will eventually get his way as some teams end up more “American”, deciding signing foreign players too expensive. Although I do think teams will continue to be smarter financially, I hope we don’t see the end of multi-cultural rosters and the MLB being a showcase of the best baseball talent in the world. That is what makes baseball in America great.