Rakuten’s “rush trade” was part of a medium to long-term vision. On September 29, the day before the exchange deadline, he acquired Takaya Tanaka (28) from a giant on a currency exchange. The next day, the 30th, an online enrollment meeting was held, and Takashi Tanaka promised to leap forward in the new world, saying, “I want to do my best to become a regular in the 1st Army so that I can taking advantage of the opportunity”.

Kazuhisa Ishii (47), who responded to the interview, carefully explained the intention and background of the trade. On the 27th, Hikaru Ota retired due to an injury to the lip of the left shoulder joint. Adachi was also in poor condition in the lower half of his body, and the two main battle receivers left one after another. It seemed that the acquisition of Takashi Tanaka had a strong meaning as an immediate receiver only as the final game was approaching, but the DJ said, “There is no superficial idea that you came to fill the place that became thin. I denied.

There is a clear intention to go one step further. Takashi Tanaka has only two games in an army as a giant, but he has time to grow as a receiver in terms of age. “I’m still 28 years old. The catcher is not in a position to replace that kind of pom-pom. In the medium term, I’m the first, second and third in the first army, and the player who is qualified to sit there in the future.” Was. On top of that, he said, “As one, I think it was an acquisition that weighed heavily on future draft strategies.”

A preliminary meeting will be held on October 26. The most important event in team building is imminent. Rakuten has nominated 5 pitchers and 10 top 3 outfielders in the last 5 years. In the last two years, he has nominated Tatsumi at 18 and Kofukada at 19 and is an outfielder who is ready to fight, but this year it will likely be a pitcher-centric nomination. The DJ also said: “There is no framework to use for receivers because there is a position that we want to prioritize this year as a team strategy.”

As fielders get stronger, there is an urgent need to rebuild pitchers. As of the end of the 29th, the starting eleven was Wakui, who joined from Lotte, with 9 wins at the top of the team, Ace Norimoto, who has supported the team, with 5 wins, and Kishi with 2 wins. Matsui, who moved into the starting lineup, has 3 wins, and Ishibashi, who had 8 wins last season, also has 1 win. Takada was acquired from a behemoth in the middle of the season, promoting a synergistic effect with Fujihira’s promising actions, but it is undeniable that the ace candidate looking to the future is slim. The season-ending trade is likely to be the basis for a “pitcher-centric nomination” at draft conference.[Satoshi Tameda]