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Thanks for the great crunch, Doc.
Here's a take from Churchill: "What I heard a week ago or so was that the M's were "interested" but that most assumed they would be grossly outbid because they wouldn't be willing to spend 70 or 80 million or more on him. 
Personally, I don't think he's worth it anyway, and if they have 80 million to throw around, the 2010 and 2011 clubs would be better served if that money was spread across multiple impact players.  I also know the M's like the Japanese prep kid quite a bit, too." http://prospectinsider.com/view/an-afl-note/?PHPSESSID=da858a4a17df379a3...
The "Japanese prep kid" being Yusei Kikuchi, whom I pointed out here: http://seattlesportsinsider.com/news/japanese-pitcher-considers-opting-o...
The latest appears to be that he will talk with 12 Japanese and 8 MLB teams: http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=465101
This appears to be extended video here, but it would be great to have some of our experts give us a take on the young man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJnYexJOcX4
He's listed as 6-0, 183, which is a little bigger than Robles (5-10, 170), but still not the prototype flamethrower.  I didn't go frame by frame but in the youtube he's pretty much in the 140s kph, which is 87-92.  Breaking pitches in the 115-120 kph or 71-75.  At the 4:00 mark he goes 149 high and wide (93 mph) and then gets the K with a 119 (74 mph) breaking pitch.
Would Kikuchi be a top 10 US draft pick, too?  Do the Ms still have that "inside track" in Japan?  Do you ever give millions to a HS pitcher or a Cuban defector?  If so, which is the better risk?