Hitoki

Iwase

The Cubs are all over the Japanese players right now, with rumored interest in Kosuke Fukudome, Hiroki Kuroda and Hitoki Iwase as well. If the Cubs sign Matsui, it might be to turn Mark DeRosa back into a utility player. The other option would be to go with Matsui at short and make Ryan Theriot a reserve. However, if they want to replace Theriot, they can do better.

The lefty closer has 40 saves in each of the past three seasons and no doubt would have had plenty of offers given the success of Japanese relievers coming to America. “I’ve wanted to continue my playing career in the place where I grew up,” Iwase said. “I made up my mind soon after I first spoke with the front office.” Iwase will make close to $4 million per year staying with the Dragons.

The 34-year-old closer, who’s considered among the best relievers in Japan and had a 2.94 ERA this season, opted against pursuing an MLB career last offseason as well.

Iwase remains Japan’s highest-paid pitcher at 430 million yen (approx. $4.75 million). The 34-year-old lefty again weighed making the jump to MLB over the winter, but it sounds like his poor showing in the Olympics convinced him he should finish his career in Japan. “I realized that I am not cut out to pitch overseas,” he said.