December 15, 2023 – With all the turmoil happening around the Toyama franchise, it’s interesting to note that the heartbeat of the club, captain Shiro Adachi, made a deal to extend his stay with what has become his trademark stoicism. The Wind Dancers and Adachi agreed today on a two-season extension for $1.5M each, the second being a team option.

The team has already executed the option year on his contract to take him through this season, so the extension will ensure he’s a Wind Dancer for 2025, and give the team an option to retain his services in 2026. The negotiations were quite swift because the team offered Adachi more than his agent asked.

“We asked for only $1.4M this season,” Adachi said when pressed on the deal. “I’m not really here for the money, after all. I’m here for the guys and for the oendan. They know who they are. But the team said ‘how about $1.5M instead?’ and I just laughed. Isn’t it supposed to go the other way?”

Yes, perhaps it is, but it’s been obvious for a long time that the relationship between Adachi and this team, and its fans (who have taken to calling him “The Great Six” after his number) has not been usual. “There’s more to him than you can measure,” said Akira Watanabe, the team’s ace. “We (the team’s pitchers) see his numbers in the field slipping from the old days, but I’m telling you, when we’re in a tough place and we need an out, we want to get someone to ground it someplace in the vicinity of Shiro.”

“It wasn’t right to ask Shiro to take a pay cut,” GM Ron Collins said. “Not after what he’s given us, and not while he’s still in his early 30s. Maybe next contract, if he’s on his way it, it would make sense. But that’s not how we’re made here in Toyama.”

Adachi has spent the past two years fending off attacks on his role as the starting short stop, and has graciously spent time in the utility role as well as at second base in both a platoon with Jose Escobido and as Escobido’s replacement when he’s gone down with an injury.

“Shiro is the perfect team mate,” said manager Hirotada Suzuki. “And he’s the best kind of guy to have on your team if you’re a manager. All you do is tell him what you need, and he makes it happen. If he plays full time, he’s going to wind up with 25 or 3 doubles and maybe 10 homers, and he’s going to be better than average in the field on the whole—but he’s going to make the play that wins the game.”