Hisashi Iwakuma Pitching For New Contract In 2016

Hisashi Iwakuma will be entering his fifth MLB season this year as he tries to re-establish himself as one of the game's premier starters. The 34-year-old delivered a 9-5 record with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in fourth season with the Seattle Mariners, but his last two seasons haven’t been as successful as his first two. The league has adjusted to the Japanese arm and Iwakuma hasn’t been able to adapt to the hitters’ adjustments. He’s still listed behind Felix Hernandez in the Mariners’ depth chart for 2016. The American League is traditionally tougher on starting pitchers, and Iwakuma will likely be middle-of-the-road again in 2016. He will expected to be a late draft pick, although he could be a solid pitcher in fantasy lineups for depth purposes. He was supposed to sign a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but failed a physical. He will be playing for a bigger contract this season.