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Japanese ace drops hint about Dodgers’ interest in teammate’s Instagram story

Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Dodgers Way

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 12: Pitcher Kohdai Senga #41 of Japan reacts after the bottom of the sixth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool E Game Two between Japan and Netherlands at the Tokyo Dome on March 12, 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

If you’re a big-market team that’s analytically-minded, then you should probably have interest in Japanese free agent ace Kodai Senga.

Senga is reportedly seeking a team that can upgrade his arsenal by remaking his pitch design, and is enthusiastic about learning all the tricks of the trade that have cropped up across MLB in recent years. With that goal in mind, he appears to be on the radar of … basically every forward-thinking and wealthy team in the game.

Thus far, Senga has reportedly been pursued by both the Yankees and Red Sox, has met with both former teammate Yu Darvish’s Padres and Yu Darvish’s former team (the Rangers), and has seen his name show up lit across the San Francisco Giants’ mega-scoreboard.

It seems, based on a little hint dropped on social media, that he’s also made recent contact with the Dodgers — either that, or he wanted to spark a little NL West rivalry.

Senga’s former Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks teammate, outfielder Akira Nakamura, posted a photo on his Instagram story this week featuring an insulated Los Angeles Dodgers tumbler, thanking Senga for the souvenir in the caption.

Dodgers Rumors: Kodai Senga spreading Los Angeles souvenirs?

So … either Senga cares so little for the Dodgers’ overtures that he’s regifting their trinkets, or he’s trying to spread the good word about Andrew Friedman’s pitch. Either very good or very bad! Interesting!

Unbelievably, the Dodgers and their high-powered payroll have gobs of money to offer before they reach the luxury tax threshold, making them among the front-runners for Senga and every single other free agent on the market. With about $100 million of wiggle room to go, LA could add a superstar shortstop, sign Aaron Judge, and still have a significant chunk of change left to woo the Japanese star and make his big-market dreams come true after introducing him to Mark Prior’s wizardry.

If the Dodgers do sign Senga, it’ll be a bit of an upset, though, considering how much smoke there is between the right-hander and the rival Padres.

Yu Darvish’s protégé or — hear us out — international thermos lover?

Perhaps this mug could make all the difference. Or perhaps it’s already in Nakamura’s dishwasher. Regardless, there’s plenty more drinkware where that came from if Senga signs with the Dodgers. And who knows? His contract might even include some money, too.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard and Dodgers Way for 4 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast twice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for eight years. Previously, he was a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.