Darvish becomes highest-paid baseball player in Japan at Y500 mil

Darvish will command a starting annual salary of at least $13 million once he decides to go to the MLB.

Darvish will command a starting annual salary of at least $13 million once he decides to go to the MLB.

I'm sure, but I hope he stays here!

It's hard to believe Iwase is the 2nd highest paid player in Japan. Ogasawara, sure.

Oh hells no, nobody is going to pay a still-technically-rookie $13 million his first year. Even Dice-K isn't even paid that much right now 4 years into his MLB career (he earned $8 million last year, then $10 million for his last 2 years on contract). No MLB team would want to set that precedent.

lostrune2: "Oh hells no, nobody is going to pay a still-technically-rookie $13 million his first year."

Agreed, but that won't stop the recent trend of Japanese players DEMANDING such salaries, and then claiming victim when they don't get it, saying, "It was their dream to play in the MLB", etc.

Anyway, I like Darvish. Not sure he's worth that much, but I do believe he's a good pitcher.

Agreed, but that won't stop the recent trend of Japanese players DEMANDING such salaries, and then claiming victim when they don't get it, saying, "It was their dream to play in the MLB", etc.

Which has happened exactly ZERO times. The Iwakuma stuff did not go down how it was leaked in the press, as was discovered later.

So..how many J women are going to kill each other to get him?

The fact that he didn't demand a multi-year contract tells me he has his eyes on MLB.

In 2010, Darvish had many games in which he had 140-150+ pitch count. Japan baseball and their managers still does not understand that if you continue to have high pitch count, Darvish will have significant arm problem at a young age and affecting his career and potential future earnings. Darvish should demand maximum 110 pitch count on any start. Take a look at Matsuzaka, he has 40 years old arm on 29 years old body. He's a washed up pitcher with bad arm and Darvish will be in a similar situation if he continues a high pitch count.

I think all sports should have a salary cap. No one is worth that much and why should they get an salary increase when the economy is this bad.