Dodgers Outfox Nomo : Team Drops Japanese Pitcher From Roster After Trade Demand

In another stunning move by an organization in flux, the Dodgers on Monday designated pitcher Hideo Nomo for assignment, ending an era of “Nomomania” stirred by the native of Japan.

On the heels of the historic May 15 Mike Piazza trade, the Dodgers effectively dumped another previously untouchable player. The disgruntled all-star--and onetime international pitching sensation--helped spur the unprecedented move by repeatedly requesting to be traded in recent weeks because of his uneasiness with the franchise’s direction under the first-year guidance of the Fox Group.

The announcement was made during a bizarre afternoon news conference at Dodger Stadium, in which some expected a trade would be announced for all-star pitcher Randy Johnson, whom sources said the Dodgers are close to acquiring from the Seattle Mariners in a three-player deal.

Instead, Nomo and his agent, Don Nomura, were informed of the Dodgers’ decision only minutes before the gathering. Now, the right-hander could be a free agent by next week.

Moreover, Fred Claire, executive vice president, firmly reestablished his grip on player-personnel decisions in the wake of his virtually nonexistent role in the Piazza situation, sources said, by ridding the organization of Nomo and his agent in a bold move.

“I have to deal with the facts at hand, and the fact was we had a player [Nomo] who requested to be traded,” Claire said. “That part of this was not in our control, but what was in our control was the course of action we would take after that request was made clear.

“Hideo and his agent felt that a change of scenery would be beneficial for him, and we moved forward from there. And having made this move, it’s not a move we can turn back from now.”

Under major league rules, the Dodgers have seven days to waive Nomo, or 10 days to trade him or assign him to triple-A Albuquerque. However, because Nomo has three or more years service time, he could refuse the assignment to triple A. At that point, he would become a free agent, and the final year of his three-year, $4.3-million contract would be voided. Nomo is owed about $1.9 million for the remainder of the season.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Dodgers purchased the contract of left-hander Gary Rath from Albuquerque.

“I just feel that I want to be in a different environment,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “I think it would be good for me, and for the Dodgers, if they traded me.

“I want to go to a team that needs me and needs my pitching. That being said, I am truly grateful to the Dodgers for giving me an opportunity to pitch in the major leagues.”

Ironically, Nomo’s name has been mentioned in speculation about a Dodger trade to acquire Johnson from the Mariners.

But the Japan native has pitched so poorly to this point--going 2-7 with a 5.05 earned-run average--that Seattle has refused to take him and is holding out for pitchers Darren Dreifort or Ismael Valdes, sources said. Completion of a deal could be announced as early as today, according to sources, or after Johnson makes his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Angels at Seattle.

The Mariners lost interest in Nomo, 29, after a scout watched his performance Saturday at Dodger Stadium. In a 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, he gave up seven hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Nomo underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in October, and teammates and opponents have said the forkball specialist hasn’t been the same since. They say he has lost velocity on his fastball, which has limited his effectiveness. He was 2-1 with a 7.41 earned-run average in spring training.

Still, Claire said he will attempt to accommodate Nomo by engineering a trade to the pitcher’s liking. But Claire acknowledged the difficulty of the task after Monday’s dizzying events.

“Clearly, this will not help the situation because there is a time frame we’re now dealing with,” Claire said. “Does that make it more difficult? The answer to that is yes.

“That being said, we’re also all aware of the great demand for pitching. If we can put Hideo in a situation he wants to be in, than that would be a plus for me.”

Only moments after the Nomo announcement, several teams contacted Claire about acquiring the pitcher. Among those to call were the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Angels.

So Nomo may well receive what he requested--but not in the manner he or his agent expected.

“This is strictly a decision by the Dodgers, we had nothing to do with making this happen,” Nomura said. “Am I surprised by this? Yes, I am, but what has happened has happened.

“We felt that it would be best for Hideo to have a change of scenery, so although we didn’t plan for this, I think it’s a good thing. Hideo will be traded and go on with his life, and the Dodgers will go on.”

Nomura and Nomo expected the Dodgers to join them in a unified showing at the news conference, sources said. They were unaware what Claire had planned until, to their disappointment, he surprised them with his decision less than 30 minutes before meeting with reporters.

Claire grew tired of Nomura’s numerous phone calls in the last few days to discuss his client’s status, sources said. By late Monday morning, Claire made up his mind to send Nomo packing.

Dodger Manager Bill Russell and his coaching staff were caught off-guard by the announcement.

“I had no idea he wanted to be traded,” said Russell, whose team is struggling at 27-29.

“I never had any problems with Hideo, and I thought we had a good relationship. This is just very surprising.”

Pitching coach Glenn Gregson said he couldn’t tell the typically stoic Nomo was having problems off the field.

“He’s a very quiet and private individual,” Gregson said. “He doesn’t open up or share very much.”

Nomura acknowledged that the organization’s recent activity had lessened his client’s desire to remain in Los Angeles. Nomo was close to Piazza, whom he shares endorsement deals with in Japan.

He was troubled by the team’s handling of that situation, when the former franchise player, who has since been traded to the New York Mets, was shipped to the Florida Marlins in a seven-player transaction.

“We had noticed things after the change [in ownership],” said Nomura, who also represents pitchers Hideki Irabu of the New York Yankees and Masato Yoshii of the Mets.

“There was a different environment here. That was obvious, and Hideo wanted to be in a different environment.”

Primarily, though, Nomo longed for the way things used to be under former owner Peter O’Malley.

He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent from Japan in 1995, in large part because of O’Malley, whose efforts to promote international baseball have been widely applauded.

Under O’Malley’s watchful eye, Nomo resurrected memories of Fernandomania in his first season. He won the 1995 National League rookie-of-the-year award, going 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA, and 236 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings.

He created a buzz throughout the Southland, boosting attendance at Dodger Stadium and sales of team merchandise here and in Japan.

Nomo further strengthened his status as a national hero in his homeland in his second season, pitching a no-hitter at Coors Field of all places. He went 16-11 with a 3.19 ERA and 234 strikeouts.

But Nomo struggled last season. He remained a strikeout artist with 233, but word emerged that something was different.

Nomo wasn’t as dominant as he had been in his first two seasons, going 14-12 with a 4.25 ERA. Nomo denied experiencing arm problems, but was forced to undergo surgery when the season ended.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NOMO BY THE YEARS

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YEAR RECORD ERA 1995 13-6 2.54 1996 16-11 3.19 1997 14-12 4.25 1998 2-7 5.05

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BY THE NUMBERS

5.83: Number of hits given up per nine innings in 1995, second best all-time behind Sandy Koufax in 1965 (5.59).

10.1: Number of strikeouts he averaged per nine innings pitched (carer), second to Randy Johnson among active pitchers.

2,775: Average attendance increase when Nomo has pitched at Dodger Stadium.

2.69: Career earned-run average at Dodger Stadium (4.31 on the road).

$54,000: Amount of money donated to UCLA Children’s Hospital by Farmer John in his name since 1996 (They donate $100 for every strikeout).

Turn of Events

Since being struck on the right arm by a line drive last on July 26, Hideo Nomo hasn’t been the same pitcher. A look at his numbers before and after that date (numbers are per nine innings pitched):

BEFORE

Innings Pitched--555

Hits--6.9

Walks--3.6

Strikeouts--10.08

Home Runs--0.8

Earned-Run Average--3.11

Won-Lost--38-25 (.585)

AFTER

Innings Pitched--139 2/3

Hits--8.3

Walks--4.4

Strikeouts--10.01

Home Runs--1.3

Earned-Run Average--5.03

Won-Lost--7-11 (.389)

A FAN FAVORITE

What Nomo has meant in attendance each season:

1995--Dodgers averaged: 38,420. When Nomo pitched: 42,858

1996--Dodgers averaged: 39,364. When Nomo pitched: 42,913

1997--Dodgers averaged: 40,974. When Nomo pitched: 41,518

1998--Dodgers are averaging: 41,766. When Nomo pitches: 34,185

Totals--Dodgers averaged: 39,821. With Nomo pitching: 42,596

NOMO’S YEAR-BY-YEAR NUMBERS

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Year IP H ER BB SO W-L ERA 1995 191 1/3 124 54 78 236 13-6 2.54 1996 228 1/3 180 81 85 234 16-11 3.19 1997 207 1/3 193 98 92 233 14-12 4.25 1998 67 2/3 57 38 38 73 2-7 5.03 Totals 694 2/3 554 271 293 776 45-36 3.51

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