3/31/2013: Fukuoka, Japan – The fans of the Fushigi Yugi Celestial Warriors weren’t happy when the team announced that unless closer Takeji Nakayama’s demands dropped drastically, he was free to go.  Ever since late January, they’ve been even more unhappy with the current management.  That’s when the C-Warriors announced that they traded Toyozo Okamoto to the Kuwana Steel Dragons for a 1^st round draft pick, relief pitcher Noriyori Mori, prospect Sosatsu Kimura and $500K.

“While I know we didn’t get instant value back for Okamoto, I think we did fairly well,” said GM Greg Abcarian.  We have some cash saved up and look to be in profit-making mode this season, so we plan on taking the best players available with our two first round picks.  Getting Mori back in a C-Warriors uniform is great, as he will help be our setup man for Akio Sai, who has now become the team’s closer.  Sosatsu Kimura is a prospect that our scouting staff thinks with a little hard work can become a decent starting infielder.  Lastly it is hard to pass up $500K, as that will help us with our main goal, and that is signing our draft picks this year.

“I understand that the fans aren’t happy at the moment, but we have to do what is best for this team in the long term, and that meant trading Okamoto and not giving in to Nakayama’s demands.  Last season, I made the mistake in thinking I could patch things up and it didn’t work, so I am trying to learn from that mistake.”

“Okamoto is going to be impossible to replace in the lineup,” said manager Toshiyuki Fujimoto, “but I understand what management is thinking since his contract is expiring and he has a tendency to get injured.  Get what you can while you can for him.  Hopefully we will sign a replacement outfielder because we are thin on major league-ready outfielders in our system.  Hopefully I am around long enough to see Sosatsu Kimura in a C-Warriors uniform.”

The team has pretty much thrown it in and it is showing with the fans these days, as the interest in the team has hit an all-time low.  Management keeps insisting they have a plan, but no one can see it.  Be ready for more changes.