Yohei Oshima of Chunichi Dragons acquired the rights to declare free agency on August 16. He is 30 years old Center fielder, and played in Dragons until 2010. The four days ago, Ryosuke Hirata of the same team also acquired the rights to declare free agency. He is 28 years old Right fielder, and played in Dragons until 2006. In Japanese proffesional baseball, The players when enrolled 8 years in the first team, acquired the rights to declare free agency of transfers to domestic team. If he enrolled 9 years in the first team, acquired the rights to declare free agency of transfers to MLB. Oshima and Hirata enrolled 8 years in the first team of Dragons, so they acquired the rights to declare free agency of transfers to domestic team.
The Japanese proffesional baseball is the difference with MLB. When the players exercise the rights, he will be Free Agent and can negotiate with other teams. So some players remains in the affiliation team and don’t exercise the rights to declare free agency. But Oshima and Hirata will exercise the rights. Because they disputed in the contract negotiations of 2014, so thay seem to have no desire to remain in Dragons.
In that case, which team will contract with them in 2016 off-season? Because Oshima and Hirata are outfielder, the team of less outfielder are considering the contract of them. So we tried to forecast.
Oshima: Orix Buffaloes or Yomiuri Giants will contract with him. Because there are no Center fielder of regular in both teams. He was good at fielding of outfield, won four Golden Glove Awards until 2015. He also got the Stolen Base Leader, so will become number 1 in the batting line‐up.
Hirata: Tohoku Rakuten Eagles or Hanshin Tigers will contract with him. Because there are no Right fielder of regular in Eagles, Eagles will think that he play with Louis Okoye of the up-and-comer. Although Tigers belongs Kosuke Fukudome of the expeat, they will think that Hirata succeed Fukudome. He is the slugger so will become cleanup of Tigers.
