In the end, Hisashi Iwakuma ended up in the place he always wanted to be.
With a smile on his face and his No. 18 jersey hanging behind him, Iwakuma’s first comments at his signing announcement press conference on Friday at Safeco Field were spoken in English – something he’s still not completely comfortable with doing.
“Hello everyone,” he said flashing a shy smile. “The Bear is back in Seattle.”
But that return path to the only team he’s ever played for in Major League Baseball had more movement than one of his splitfinger fastballs. In the last week, Iwakuma went from an agreed upon 3-year, $45 million contract with the Dodgers, to being notified about concerns over a failed physical and then asked to renegotiate his deal with the Dodgers, to reestablishing contact with the Mariners and eventually agreeing on a contract.