Fansided

Report: Dodgers cancel contract with Hisashi Iwakuma due to failed physical

By Matt Whitener

Sep 11, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma (18) sits in the dugout after being relieved from the game during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma (18) sits in the dugout after being relieved from the game during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dodgers are apparently taking themselves out of the running for Hisashi Iwakuma. 

The offseason woes for the Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly continued today. Reports from Japan’s Jiji Press are stating that the Dodgers are cancelling the set deal they had in place to sign pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, due to a failed physical.

The physical was the last step before the two sides officially agreed on a three-year, $45 million pact for the 34-year-old right hander. Iwakuma had recently passed a physical issued to him by his former club, the Seattle Mariners. However, the Dodgers likely did not see a promising enough prognosis over the life of the deal they had agreed to.

While a strained lat muscle limited him to only 20 starts in 2015, it is more likely that a warning flag with his litany of past injuries that would cause this type of pause on a deal. In addition to last season’s injury, he also has a history of shoulder difficulties that stretches back to 2010 when he still pitched in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, as well as a finger tendon injury that delayed the start of his 2014 season as well.

While Iwakuma’s current offer is likely off the table, there is the chance the Dodgers still bring him on at a shorter term contract, or he could opt to return to free agency completely.

The Dodgers could opt to rework Iwakuma’s deal or venture elsewhere in the available free agent pool. Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir and Wei-Yin Chen are seen as the top remaining MLB free agents still standing. Also, Japanese free agent pitcher Kenta Maeda arrived in the LA-area this week to begin the process of fielding offers for teams interested in posting bids negotiating for his services as well, and the

Dodgers are listed among the interest teams in acquiring him as well

.

The Iwakuma news comes on the heels of what has been a difficult offseason thus for the Dodgers, who have already seen a deal to acquire closer Aroldis Chapman collapse, as well as lost out on retaining Zack Greinke to their division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks.

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