“Adam Moore is so awesome that he even beat out Jason Varitek to win a place on this team.”

Not as likely as “That stupid unproven rookie catcher is taking playing time away from a proven all-star backstop with World Series credentials!”

And there’s no way Varitek is willing to take an assignment to AAA or a league minimum contract unless he desperately wants to play and 29 other teams wont offer him more.

Very unlikely.

Doh! Should be: How do you say “Catcher’s ERA” in Japanese?

Something like this; 捕手の防御率の平均
Does that help?

By the way, starting off a post with “this is off-topic, but” is going to get said post deleted for being, you know, off-topic.

I know this stuff, really.

What about the money value of time?

I see what you’re getting at, but there’s absolutely no way we can put a number on that for someone else. And what are the chances Joh would have gotten a contract at all when he’s 35 and has three years of being a backup catcher in Seattle? Especially if Adam Moore comes on strong, limiting Joh’s playing time even more?

Financially speaking, it is very clear that the NPB route is better. And it seems similarly clear that being the starting catcher in Hanshin is also preferable than being the second- or third-string catcher in Seattle.

.time value of money and all

You’d be wrong. Even with a discount rate of 10%, Kenji’s new contract has an NPV of over $18 million.

What about the money value of time? If Kenji stayed in the MLB, he gets two more years of life where he could possibly play for a few millions in Japan and make more money. If he doesn’t play he can enjoy two years of life.

I’m just saying that financially speaking it not clear whether the MLB or the NPB route is better. But since Kenji wants to finish in Japan, it makes sense to move back now.

I’d rather have $16 million in 2 years rather than $21 million over 4 years….time value of money and all

You’d be wrong. Even with a discount rate of 10%, Kenji’s new contract has an NPV of over $18 million.

Quick Quiz: the Phillies are going to the World Series. Who’s their starting catcher?

Well, although he sort of came up as one originally, I think it’s safe to say it won’t be Raul.