Rakuten has told six players it will not offer them contracts for next season, including Daiei Toshihiro, a catcher drafted out of high school in the fourth round last year. The notices were given on October 29, after the Eagles had already informed six players on September 28 and one more on October 20.
Daiei was rated a power-hitting catcher from his days at Gakushu Ishikawa High School. In his first professional season he played 24 games in the minors, with eight hits, one home run, seven RBIs and a .182 average.
A scout questions the decision
A scout with another club criticized the move, saying it amounts to an admission that Rakuten cannot coach young players. "It's like saying the team has no coaching ability," the scout said, according to Daily Shincho.
The Eagles' three rounds of cuts came as the offseason began following the Japan Series, a period when attention usually turns to moves to the majors and free agency.