Annual salary increased by 110 million from this season … “I told you I want to play with the Lions until the end”
Infielder Sosuke Genda of Seibu, who is expected to acquire domestic free agent rights within the next season, will negotiate a contract renewal on the 26th at the team office near the Belluna Dome, and this season’s annual salary is 190 million yen to 110 million yen. He signed a five-year contract with a higher annual salary of 300 million yen next season, a total of 1.5 billion yen plus trading volume (estimated amount). Every year, there have been outflows of top players due to FA, and Yuya Mori, who has won domestic FA rights this season, also decided to transfer to Orix.
The team submitted a large contract to prevent the outflow from next year, and Genda also responded with a “Lifelong Lions” resolution. The master said, “I was selected by the Lions in the draft (3rd place in 2016), and I think I am who I am today because I play baseball with the Lions. ‘I told him,’ ” he said after discussions.
At the press conference, when asked, “What do you like about Seibu?”, he replied, “I enjoy being with the team staff, the manager, the coaches, and all the players. The fans are also warm. I like everything. Don’t you?” he laughed. He said, “I am very grateful for the long-term contract of 5 years. I have been evaluated so much that I think it is good. “When it is over, I will do my best to be a worthy player.” There is no any change in his humble personality.
It seems that one of the factors that quickly decided to stay was the existence of the infielder, Shuta Tonozaki, who formed a duo duo. Genda, born in February 1993, and Tonozaki, born in December 1992, are 29 years old in the same grade. This year, Genda won the Gold Glove Award for the fifth time in five consecutive years as a shortstop, and Sotozaki also won the Golden Glove Award for the second time in two years as a second baseman. This is also the second time in two years that both have won the award at the same time. Tonozaki has already announced that he will acquire the domestic FA rights earlier this season and will remain on a four-year contract in October.
