"Kokubo dealt to Giants" read our headline above the story reporting the transfer of infielder Hiroki Kokubo from the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks to the Yomiuri Giants on Nov. 4. But how would this appear in the sports transactions columns listed in many newspapers in North America and around the world?
Kokubo, assuming he can recover from a devastating knee injury suffered during a spring training exhibition game last March, is one of the top players in Japanese baseball. Hawks' 1995 teammate Kevin Mitchell said even then, "Kokubo's got great tools. He could play in the major leagues right now," and he's gotten better over the past eight years.
The third baseman enjoyed his best season in 2001 when he slammed 44 homers, drove in 123 runs and hit .290. In 2002, his stats were 32, 89, .292, and his salary is listed as 210 million yen, highest on the Fukuoka team. So, how can the Hawks send him to the Giants without benefit of a trade, contract sale, waivers, contract release or free agency?