The images late last week of lefty pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi posing for photos wearing a white Seibu Lions uniform over his dress shirt — he wore a blue tie for effect — might've been a bit jarring for Yomiuri Giants fans.
Other fanbases, like those raided by Yomiuri in free agency over the years, may have reveled in the sight to some extent. Because as much as free agency sometimes seems like an instrument to only make the Giants stronger, this time the Kyojin felt the business end.
Utsumi might not be a top-level player, but he was still important to the Yomiuri franchise and fanbase. It's a reminder that even in NPB, where some stars are allowed to hang on too long, baseball is still a business.