Niihama-shi fans are still buzzing a day after saying “Sayonara” to their beloved, superstar left fielder who was sent to the Charleston Statesmen in a deal of epic proportions. Ryozo Takeuchi, 26, had established himself as Japan’s premier power hitter, but the Ghosts new GM, Brian Kotler, felt he didn’t fit in the team’s long term plans and gave him a new home overseas.

“The Ghosts future will look very different a year from now,” Kotler said, referring to the merger with PEBA that follows the 2020 campaign. “Our competition is about to skyrocket and we can’t get caught with our pants down.  It can get cold over there in the U.S.”

Laughter erupted from the reporters gathered at the press conference after Kotler’s tongue-in-cheek remark. Though it eased some of the tension surrounding the pivotal announcement, the fact remains that the Ghosts bade farewell to a guy who’s hit 184 homers in just 598 career games.

In return, Niihama-shi will welcome three young studs aboard. Twenty-three year old Brandon Meade immediately fills the role vacated by Takeuchi’s departure in left field. Also added were 24-year old pitcher Roger Keller and 22-year old minor league catcher Giovanny Zimolo.

In his first full PEBA season, Meade hit .294 with 14 HR and 81 RBI against tougher pitching than he’ll face this year in the LRS. Though he’ll never unload on a ball the way Takeuchi does, Meade thrives at getting the bat head out quickly and driving balls to the gaps.  He’s got big shoes to fill but he says he isn’t worried.

“I’m excited to see what I can do this year,” Meade said through his new interpreter.  “I hear the pitching is a notch or two below what I’m used to seeing, so maybe I can put up numbers fans are used to seeing from Takeuchi.  They’re a winning club and it’s a privilege to be part of the tradition.  Oh, and I love sushi!  Anybody know a good sushi joint around here?”

Roger Keller, a flamethrower who hates to see wood touch anything he throws, also joins Kotler’s cast of affable new characters. He began his career last year in the bullpen, but word is out that he’s working on a third pitch this offseason to try to earn a spot in the Ghosts rotation. If he adds to his repertoire that already includes a scintillating three-digit heater and 12-6 curve that rivals the best in the business, he could end up being the steal of the deal.

According to Kotler, though, the final piece that got him to sign on the dotted line was Zimolo.“As soon as we saw this kid, we knew we had to have him,” Kotler said. “He’s a huge kid with even bigger power potential.”  That’s a hefty statement considering Zimolo stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at 235 pounds.

“His power is a premium at the catcher position, and the kid calls a good game,” Kotler added. “When I came here, I immediately set out on a three-year plan.  Then it became five, and now it’s ten.  That’s how good these young kids are.”

Niihama-Shi’s GM is confident that he’s laying the groundwork for a perennial powerhouse, but he hinted that he isn’t done yet.

“Our system was practically void of good talent and we had to begin the restocking process. We just made some huge inroads today with these three fantastic prospects. We hate to lose Tak but he’s always had trouble staying healthy and he’s not getting any younger so we began to worry a bit. Grabbing three potential all-stars for him is a minor coup.  I like coups, the more the better.”

The Ghosts new GM has been targeting youth ever since being handed the job a few weeks ago. In the wake of the LRS scandal that emptied the rosters of a third of the league’s teams, the Ghosts dove in swooping up young talent round after round.

Their first pick (sixth overall) was 21-year old phenom Shigekazu Shimizu. According to team sources, the young shortstop is being groomed as Niihama-Shi’s table setter.

“This kid’s got tremendous talent,” Kotler said. “He has all the tools we’re looking for at the top of our lineup. He’s gonna be a great one for a long, long time.”  Just minutes later, Kotler gave Shimizu his future double play partner when he snatched up 22-year old second baseman Hirohisa Inoue.

The Ghosts also added first baseman Jose Guerra and starting pitchers Toyoharu Higuchi and Koki Watanabe in the draft, all highly touted but none of whom are older than 24 right now. The youth movement is in full swing.

Under the admirable work of Mike Dunn, the Ghosts’ previous front office boss, Niihama-Shi made the playoffs the past two seasons after a six year absence – but he did so, admittedly, at the expense of young talent.

“I could have had no hands and still been able to count on my fingers how many PEBA-quality prospects we had in our organization,” Kotler said with a wry smirk. “We’re headed in a whole new direction, one that’s gonna keep us winning for a long time.”