Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Robbie Erlin became the second player in the last few days to sign a contract in Japan, in what could be a trend for several more free agents.
If there aren’t jobs to be had in the United States playing baseball, there sure is money to make in Japan doing it. Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Robbie Erlin is in the unemployment line no longer after agreeing to pitch for the Nippon Ham Fighters, of the Japan Pacific League.
Just days ago Cy Sneed left the Houston Astros organization to sign with the Yakult Swallows of the JPL.
In a slow moving market in American Baseball, with a glut of free agents and not many roster spots to put them on, there could be more and more major league players going abroad to sign contracts. There are not many guaranteed spots in the majors right now, and leaving for the JPL would provide some sort of security for players.
Those fringe players who choose to stay in the States may be forced to sign a minor league contract and try to win a spot on an opening day roster the hard way.
Erlin is a guy who has been out of work since mid-September, when the Atlanta Braves kicked him to the curb after he posted an 8.49 earned run average in seven games. In his seven years in the league Erlin has bounced back from starter to reliever and back again as many times as home runs he’s allowed.
The former third round pick by the Texas Rangers debuted in 2013 with the San Diego Padres, and split this year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Braves, before his season came to a crashing halt. In 115 games (43 starts), Erlin has a career ERA of 4.85.
As Robbie Erlin heads overseas for the first time in his professional career, he hopes to right the ship on the mound. A good performance in Japan could lead to a contract back in the majors when the market hopefully corrects itself a year from now.