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Kenji Johjima opts out of final two years
blog.thenewstribune.com - 10/19/2009
Kenji Johjima opts out of final two years
—
ne of the thorniest issues the Seattle Mariners faced – what to do with catcher Kenji Johjima – has been resolved: The 33-year-old catcher has decided to return to Japan with two years left on his contract. "After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to ...
Happy Trails, Kenji Johjima
babeslovebaseball.com - 10/19/2009
Happy Trails, Kenji Johjima
— babeslovebaseball.com — Kenji Johjima, the first ever Japanese-born catcher to play in the big leagues, has decided to abandon... the final two years of his three-year, $33 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in favor of heading back home to Japan... (more) Happy Trails, Kenji Johjima

Comments vote down sooze sooze posted 10/19/2009posted this
Seattle Mariners' Kenji Johjima opts out of last 2 years of contract
sports.espn.go.com - 10/19/2009
Seattle Mariners' Kenji Johjima opts out of last 2 years of contract
— sports.espn.go.com — Seattle's Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners,... making him a free agent. (more) Seattle Mariners' Kenji Johjima opts out of last 2 years ...

Comments vote down AZ Snakepit found this 10/19/2009found this
ussmariner.com - 10/19/2009
Kenji Opts Out
— ussmariner.com — Still working to confirm, but I’ve been told that Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final... two years of his contract. Obviously, woo. Edit: LaRue confirms with a quote. “After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided ... (more) Kenji Opts Out

Comments vote down baseballmusings.com found this 10/19/2009found this

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Babes Love Baseball:  Happy Trails, Kenji Johjima

Full of Sports:  Kenji Johjima opts out of final two years

U.S.S. Mariner:  Kenji Opts Out

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Happy Trails, Kenji Johjima
Babes Love Baseball — ... play. He signed with the Mariners in 2005 after playing 11 seasons in Japan's Pacific League with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Johjima batted .268 in his four seasons with Seattle, knocking out 84 doubles, 48 homers and 198 RBIs over 462 games. Impressively, he also holds the AL record for hits by a rookie catcher with 147 in 2006, and the 18 longballs he nailed in his first season tied the club record for most by a catcher. Good luck, Kenji! [MLB] | [Mariners Insider] | [Jorge Says No!] ...

Kenji Johjima opts out of final two years
Full of Sports — ne of the thorniest issues the Seattle Mariners faced – what to do with catcher Kenji Johjima – has been resolved: The 33-year-old catcher has decided to return to Japan with two years left on his contract. "After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to ... Babes Love Baseball found this 5 hours ago on blog.thenewstribune.com Find more top sports news, videos, and blogs on BallHype: MLB, Kenji Johjima, Seattle Mariners

Kenji Opts Out
U.S.S. Mariner — Still working to confirm, but I’ve been told that Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract. Obviously, woo. Edit: LaRue confirms with a quote. “After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to resume my career in Japan,” Johjima. “I have had a wonderful experience competing at the Major League level. The last four years have been extraordinary, with great teammates and great coaches. “I will always be indebted to the Mariners organization for giving ...

Bye, Kenji
Lookout Landing — ... Larry LaRue breaks the news that the best catcher in franchise history is opting out of his contract and going back to Japan. Sounds like the real deal, too - Zduriencik is holding a press conference in a couple of hours to discuss it. ...

Kenji Johjima surprisingly opts out of Mariners contract, returns to Japan
Circling The Bases — [image] Kenji Johjima had two years and $16 million remaining on the contract extension that Bill Bavasi misguidedly handed out as one of his final acts as Mariners general manager, but the 33-year-old catcher has decided to accept an undisclosed buyout from the team and finish his career in Japan. According to Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune , Johjima's interest in returning home increased when the Mariners informed him that he'd likely be a backup in 2010 after hitting just .247/.296/.406 this season and .227/.277/.332 last year. Here's what Johjima said about the ...

Sayonra Johjima-san
Ivy Chat — Interesting news out of Seattle. Catcher Kenji Johjima has decided to return to Japan and cancel the final two years left on his contract: ...

So Long, Joh-K
Palm Ball NW/Bleeding Blue and Teal — ... , Kenji Johjima has opted out of his contract, leaving two years and $16M on the table.  Larry LaRue broke the story this morning.  Check it out for quotes from the parties involved.  GM Jack Zduriencik has denied that there was a buyout and it sounds like Kenji was just ready to go home, but how this came to pass will probably remain a mystery. ...

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Kenji Johjima Opts Out Of Contract
mlbtraderumors.com 10/19/2009 — Catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract, according to a press release from the Mariners.
Mariners' Kenji Johjima opts out of contract
seattletimes.nwsource.com 10/19/2009 — Veteran catcher wants to finish his career in Japan.
Kenji Johjima surprisingly opts out of Mariners contract, returns to Japan
bases.nbcsports.com 10/23/2009 — Kenji Johjima had two years and $16 million remaining on the contract extension that Bill Bavasi misguidedly handed out as one of his final acts as Mariners general manager, but the 33-year-old catcher has decided to accept an undisclosed buyout...
Kenji Johjima Is Going Back to Japan
mlb.fanhouse.com 10/19/2009 — by Tom Fornelli The Seattle Mariners announced on Monday that catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of his current contract with the team so that he can return to Japan and finish out his career there. Johjima signed a three-year contract extension ...
Johjima returns to Japan with $21 million deal
bases.nbcsports.com 10/30/2009 — Kenji Johjima did the Mariners a huge favor last week by simply walking away from the final two years and $16 million on his contract, but it turns out that he had more money waiting for him back in Japan....
Kenji Johjima gives Mariners an early Christmas present
seattletimes.nwsource.com 10/20/2009 — Good to be back in town after four days covering the Arizona Fall League. Thanks to Larry Stone for filling in yesterday when the news broke about Kenji Johjima and third base coach Bruce Hines . A couple of quick things I wanted to address about ...
Johjima leaves Seattle for Japan
azsnakepit.com 10/19/2009 — Johjima leaves Seattle for Japan Seattle Mariners Catcher Kenji Johjima has decided to forgo the last two years and $16M of his contract with the Mariners to return to Japan. Surely, the Mariners are pleased with this news, as Johjima had struggled mightily in 2009 and it allows them to ...
Kenji Johjima Is Going Back To Japan
hotdogandfriends.com 10/19/2009 — One thing is for certain, no one will ever say your time here was boring… In his first season with the team, Johjima hit .291 with 18 home runs and 76 RBIs in 144 games. This was in a post-Ichiro landscape, but also a post-Chan Ho Park and So Taguchi world as well. What I’m ...
Seattle Gets Better as Johjima Decides to Return to Japan
slanchreport.com 10/20/2009 — Wow! The Seattle Mariners just got incredibly fortunate, their catcher Kenji Jojhima has just opted out of his contract and is intending to return to Japan to finish his career there. The first Japanese catcher in the majors, Johjima’s first two seasons were solid, with his best ...
Seattle Mariners Get Some Good News
theghostofmoonlightgraham.wordpress.com 10/20/2009 — There was a very small, but yet very big transaction yesterday for the Seattle Mariners. According to the Seattle Mariners' official website, catcher Kenji Johjima will opt out of the remaining two years on his contract and return to Japan.
Johjima opts out of last 2 years of contract — Boston.com -- Baseball News 10/19/2009
Seattle's Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners, making him a free agent.
Seattle Mariners Luck Out As Catcher Kenji Johjima Opts Out Of Contract — Bleacher Report - MLB 10/19/2009
Larry LaRue from The News Tribune is reporting that Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners: "After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to resume my career in ...
Johjima opts out of contract — Major League Baseball News 10/19/2009
Four years after becoming the first Japan-produced catcher to play in the Major Leagues, Kenji Johjima has decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners and return to his homeland.
Johjima opts out of M's deal, will return to Japan — SI.com - MLB 10/19/2009
SEATTLE (AP) -- Japanese catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Seattle Mariners with the intent of continuing his playing career in Japan.
Kenji Johjima opts out of contract; Bruce Hines out as third-base coach — The Seattle Times: Sports 10/19/2009
In a stunning development, catcher Kenji Johjima has told the Mariners he is exercising the out-clause in his contract, allowing him to opt out of the final two years of his deal.