Lokee
10-19-2009, 12:45 PM
12:34pm: According to Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, there was no buyout.
11:36am: Catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract, according to a press release from the Mariners. He'll resume his career back in Japan. The Mariners are freed from the $16MM they'd have owed Johjima over 2010-11, though Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune (http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2009/10/19/kenji-johjima-opts-out-of-final-two-years/) says the parties "came to an agreement on a buyout."
Johjima originally signed with the Mariners as a free agent; he agreed to a three-year, $16.5MM deal in November of 2005. His success in '06 and '07 made that entire contract worthwhile, but Johjima's April '08 three-year extension (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/04/kenji-johjima-s.html) for $24MM was widely panned.
11:36am: Catcher Kenji Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract, according to a press release from the Mariners. He'll resume his career back in Japan. The Mariners are freed from the $16MM they'd have owed Johjima over 2010-11, though Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune (http://blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners/2009/10/19/kenji-johjima-opts-out-of-final-two-years/) says the parties "came to an agreement on a buyout."
Johjima originally signed with the Mariners as a free agent; he agreed to a three-year, $16.5MM deal in November of 2005. His success in '06 and '07 made that entire contract worthwhile, but Johjima's April '08 three-year extension (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/04/kenji-johjima-s.html) for $24MM was widely panned.