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tehsuigi · 06-15-2020, 12:08 AM

BREAKING - *** TO ACQUIRE BCL AND SILP FOR NEW MINOR LEAGUE TIER

TOKYO - September 29, 2023

As the teams in the PL and CL Climax Series Final Stages finish their preparations, a bombshell of an announcement from *** headquarters in Tokyo - the league will be purchasing, in whole, the Baseball Challenge League and Shikoku Island League Plus, converting them from independent leagues to an "major-minor" system above the existing "ni-gun" farm teams.

*** commissioner Atsushi Saito commented that this was necessary to ensure players in Japan had sufficient opportunities to grow and contribute, both at the minor league and major league level. This also recognizes the substantial financial boon to be had with teams that can draw players to substantial ballparks instead of the smaller 500-5,000 seaters the ni-gun league uses. No word yet if the name of the lower league will change.

An insider with *** indicated that this also resolves the pending lawsuit with the SILP regarding the intrusion into their territory; it's effectively a moot point now.

The two Kansai area teams, Hiroshima, and the future Matsuyama franchise will be matched with the SILP, with the remainder matched with the BCL based on geography. This will pose some travel issues for any "shuttle squad" desired for teams like Fukuoka SoftBank, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, and the future Naha franchise, but *** has indicated a cost-sharing regime could be instituted if absolutely required.

Shikoku Island League Plus

Matsuyama TBD = Ehime Mandarin Pirates
Hanshin Tigers = Kagawa Olive Guyners
Hiroshima Toyo Carp = Kochi Fighting Dogs
Orix Buffaloes = Tokushima Indigo Socks

Baseball Challenge League

Chiba Lotte Marines = Ibaraki Astro Planets
Chunichi Dragons = Ocean Shiga Blacks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks = Ishikawa Million Stars
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters = Toyama GRN Thunderbirds
Naha TBD = Fukui Wild Raptors
Niigata Komatsu Bears = Niigata Albirex
Saitama Seibu Lions = Saitama Musashi Heat Bears
Shizuoka Arrows = Shinano Grandserows
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles = Fukushima RedHopes
Tokyo Yakult Swallows = Tochigi Golden Braves
Yokohama DeNA BayStars = Kanagawa Future Dreams
Yomiuri Giants = Gunma Diamond Pegasus

The acquisition is scheduled to be completed before the winter meetings in November 2023. By that time, the 2023 Expansion Draft will have been completed, with similar rules for the Matsuyama and Naha franchises as the Niigata Komatsu Bears and Shizuoka Arrows.

Sources indicate the Baseball Federation of Japan, the last remaining independent league in Japan, may expand to adjust for the loss of independent opportunities.

*note - run below only in Shizuoka editions*
Reached for comment on the development, Arrows GM tehsuigi was pleasantly surprised. "I'm chuffed to get the chance to work with my old ballclub again! I started my career with the Grandserows in Nagano, and I heard they won their second straight BCL title a few days ago."

UPDATE: issues with closing the transaction will delay its completion until late February, just a day before spring training commences.

06-15-2020, 12:08 AM	#28
tehsuigi All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 781	BREAKING - * TO ACQUIRE BCL AND SILP FOR NEW MINOR LEAGUE TIER TOKYO - September 29, 2023 As the teams in the PL and CL Climax Series Final Stages finish their preparations, a bombshell of an announcement from * headquarters in Tokyo - the league will be purchasing, in whole, the Baseball Challenge League and Shikoku Island League Plus, converting them from independent leagues to an "major-minor" system above the existing "ni-gun" farm teams. * commissioner Atsushi Saito commented that this was necessary to ensure players in Japan had sufficient opportunities to grow and contribute, both at the minor league and major league level. This also recognizes the substantial financial boon to be had with teams that can draw players to substantial ballparks instead of the smaller 500-5,000 seaters the ni-gun league uses. No word yet if the name of the lower league will change. An insider with * indicated that this also resolves the pending lawsuit with the SILP regarding the intrusion into their territory; it's effectively a moot point now. The two Kansai area teams, Hiroshima, and the future Matsuyama franchise will be matched with the SILP, with the remainder matched with the BCL based on geography. This will pose some travel issues for any "shuttle squad" desired for teams like Fukuoka SoftBank, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, and the future Naha franchise, but *** has indicated a cost-sharing regime could be instituted if absolutely required. Shikoku Island League Plus Matsuyama TBD = Ehime Mandarin Pirates Hanshin Tigers = Kagawa Olive Guyners Hiroshima Toyo Carp = Kochi Fighting Dogs Orix Buffaloes = Tokushima Indigo Socks Baseball Challenge League Chiba Lotte Marines = Ibaraki Astro Planets Chunichi Dragons = Ocean Shiga Blacks Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks = Ishikawa Million Stars Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters = Toyama GRN Thunderbirds Naha TBD = Fukui Wild Raptors Niigata Komatsu Bears = Niigata Albirex Saitama Seibu Lions = Saitama Musashi Heat Bears Shizuoka Arrows = Shinano Grandserows Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles = Fukushima RedHopes Tokyo Yakult Swallows = Tochigi Golden Braves Yokohama DeNA BayStars = Kanagawa Future Dreams Yomiuri Giants = Gunma Diamond Pegasus The acquisition is scheduled to be completed before the winter meetings in November 2023. By that time, the 2023 Expansion Draft will have been completed, with similar rules for the Matsuyama and Naha franchises as the Niigata Komatsu Bears and Shizuoka Arrows. Sources indicate the Baseball Federation of Japan, the last remaining independent league in Japan, may expand to adjust for the loss of independent opportunities. note - run below only in Shizuoka editions Reached for comment on the development, Arrows GM tehsuigi was pleasantly surprised. "I'm chuffed to get the chance to work with my old ballclub again! I started my career with the Grandserows in Nagano, and I heard they won their second straight BCL title a few days ago." UPDATE: issues with closing the transaction will delay its completion until late February, just a day before spring training commences. Last edited by tehsuigi; 06-16-2020 at 09:55 AM.