By Hiroshi Nakamura, Kure Shimbun

2/2/2012: Kure, Japan – For the fans of Kure, this has been an off-season unlike any other.  A new dome and a new corporate sponsor deal is in the making, and just last week the team announced what is sure to go down in history as one of the franchise’s biggest moves yet.

Not satisfied with adding one top of the rotation starter in Nobuhito Daikawa, the Arsenal have now added a second in Yugoro “Checkmate” Chouda, most recently of the Seoul Crushers.

The long-rumored deal was finally completed just hours after the LRS Winter Meetings, and to call it a blockbuster is an understatement.  Also coming to Kure is former first round pick Tashiro Meshizuka and two picks in the upcoming 2012 draft.

“It’s an exciting move for us and the fans.  As people know, this has been a rebuilding project for a couple of years now in Kure… but now it’s time to start moving up a little in the standings.  Being able to bring out starters like Checkmate, Daikawa and “Snake Hips” means we’re going at least be in most games,” said manager Toyokazu Morita.

Shortly after trading for Chouda, the team signed him to a very team-friendly 5-year contract extension worth $15,950,000, keeping him in Kure until 2017.

“It’s a return home for me in a sense,” says Chouda, who hails from relatively nearby Okinawa.  “It’s where I’ve wanted to be for some time, and I didn’t see much reason to hesitate in committing to Kure.  Hopefully we can turn things around and give the loyal fans the exciting baseball they deserve.”

Chouda was originally a member of the cross-town rival Hyakujuu Shinkansen, but was traded to Seoul in a blockbuster deal that saw Kenzaburo Sato and Hisashi Wada swap teams along with a slew of draft picks.  In Seoul, Chouda was dominant despite playing for one of the worst teams in the league.

“It tore my heart out to leave the Hiroshima area.  Not that there’s anything wrong with Korea, but this is home to me,” says Chouda.  “I never quite got over leaving, and now that I’m back I’m going to do everything in my power to see that the Shinkansen regret the day they let me go.”

Meshizuka comes to Kure on the heels of a down season that saw him tally a 2-13 record to go along with a 5.99 ERA.  However, one would expect the Yokahama native’s home run rate to drop from the 24 he surrendered in 153 innings simply by moving to Kure.

“I’m looking forward to the change of scenery, frankly,” says Meshizuka.  “Not that there’s anything wrong with Korea, but this is where I want to be.  This is a chance for a fresh start, and I’m happy to be arriving with Checkmate.  I think we’ve got the makings of a solid team with a lot of young pieces.”

Meshizuka will likely compete for a spot as the 6^th man in the starting rotation, or as a long reliever out of the bullpen.  Manager Morita is bullish on the 22-year-old.

“He’s got three pitches that are already average and the makings of a changeup.  If he can get that going a little and throw with a little more command, he’s going to be just fine.”