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Johjima's decision good for player and club
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The signs were all there. For Kenji Johjima to decide to leave the Mariners and return to Japan should not be considered a shock. In fact, it was anticipated. And, in the Mariners case, appreciated.
Johjima had lost his starting job. He had lost confidence from some of his pitchers, and perhaps himself. He had an escape clause in his contract. He wanted to return home where he would be more welcomed. The path was paved for his departure.
Johjima, 33, announced Monday that he will opt out of the final two years on his controversial contract and return to play baseball in Japan. The wildly popular Hanshin Tigers are the most likely team to sign him. He had played 11 season with Fukuoka before signing with the Mariners in 2006.
"After lots of very deep thoughts and deliberation, I have decided to return home to resume my career in Japan," Johjima said in a statement. "The last four years have been extraordinary, with great teammates and great coaches. I will always be indebted to the Mariners organization for giving me the opportunity to follow my dream. This was a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally.''
That may be stretching the truth a little bit. He had a handful of teammates, most notably Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, who didn't want to pitch to him because of various complaints, that he set up too late, that he didn't call a good game, that he didn't have a rhythm with the pitcher or that he had communication issues.
I felt sorry for Joh because he tried to be all things to all pitchers. He worked harder than anyone to get to know all his teammates and fit in. But there were some who disparaged him and that's a shame.
This past spring I went to Tokyo to cover the first round of the World Baseball Classic and brought up these clubhouse comments and issues with him. He simply said, “I don't try to take it personal.''
Johjima put his best effort forward every day. He even made the arduous 6,500-mile trip from Japan to Phoenix this past February so that he could work with the pitchers and new manager Don Wakamatsu and his staff. He stayed for just two days then went back to Japan to re-join his WBC teammates.
Johjima, who hit .299 with 211 home runs for Fukuoka, had a solid first two seasons offensively with the Mariners. He hit .289 with 32 HR and 132 RBI. He had 18 home runs in 2006 to tied the club mark for catchers. He holds the American League record for hits by a rookie catcher (147 in 2006).
Then something drastic happened in 2008. He lost it and never regain what he had. It could be traced back to an inexplicable contract extension he signed on April, 25, 2008. It was a three-year deal for $24 million. That didn't make any sense. The team's best prospect at the time, Jeff Clement, was a catcher, plus there were two other big-league caliber catchers in the system, Rob Johnson and Adam Moore.
The club didn't really need to lock him up for that long or that much. At the time he was hitting .194 and the front office reassured the fans that they wouldn't dish out that kind of money for a player who they thought would continue hitting at that level. But Johjima hardly improved. He never approached the production he had his first two seasons.
He hit just .227 with seven HR and just 39 RBI in 2008. This past season he dealt with a couple injuries and finished with just a .247 average with nine home runs and 22 RBI.
"We are very appreciative of everything Kenji has done for this organization over the past four seasons," said general manager Jack Zduriencik, who had a conference call with reporters this week. "We respect his decision to return home. Joh has been a terrific teammate and a great competitor. His work ethic, production and desire to win made him a positive role model. We wish Kenji the very best and will follow his career. As a veteran of 14 professional seasons, we respect his decision. We will always consider Kenji a member of the Mariners family."
Unspoken, however, is that fact that the Mariners will benefit monetarily from this decision.
Johjima was to be paid $7.7 million in 2010 and $8.1 million in 2011. This was an escape clause in his contract and the Mariners owe no more, not even a nominal buyout.
What they do with that money is uncertain. The club needs a couple big hitters, and, as Zduriencik points out, a veteran catcher to support Johnson and Moore.
But privately, this is what the club had hoped. I suspect there may have been a year-end meeting with the front office in which Johjima and his agent Alan Nero were politely told that there was no real role for Joh on the roster next season. It might be best to consider his option to return home.
It's a good professional decision for both the player and the club. But he will be missed. He was always positive, always trying to get better, always hoping to fit it. In the end, it just didn't fit anymore.
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