The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles may be losing their best pitcher, but the posting money the Pacific League club may receive from the Oakland Athletics for the rights to negotiate with ace right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma would give them a lot of pocket money to spend on available free agents set to leave other Japanese teams or those ready to return home from North America.
The deal is contingent upon Iwakuma reaching terms on a contract with the A's. If he doesn't, his rights revert to Rakuten and no money changes hands.
The Eagles have already acquired former Tokyo Yakult Swallows and major league infielder Akinori Iwamura and, if they like, the Eagles can go after more such talent with the estimated $16 million-$18 million bank transfer from California.