Japanese Players In MLB Rumors

Odds And Ends: Phillies, Manny, Japanese Players

Here are a few more random notes from the MLBiverse... Todd Zolecki says the Phillies would likely have to trade Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs if they want to add another right-handed bat to the bench, noting that it is not likely for either player to be released after the Phils already ate Adam Eaton's contract. Zolecki does say that Stair's $1M salary would be easier to absorb. Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal gives us some quotes from Terry Francona in response to being asked about Jonathon Papelbon calling Manny Ramirez a "cancer." Francona would not answer the questions...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mets, Tigers, Red Sox, Angels, Pirates

Today is free agent Cliff Floyd's birthday. He is 36 years young. His knees are not. Also, on this date 18 years ago, the San Diego Padres sent Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to the Blue Jays for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez, in one of the biggest trades ever featuring young, proven talent. Got one that can top that? Let's hear it in the comments...With little action so far this year, the Hot Stove Season is ugly, Don Mossi ugly. Let's take a look at what is being written in the blogosphere... Mets Geek takes a look at three...   Continue Reading

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Yankees Send Michael To Japan

Mark Feinsand is reporting that the Yankees have sent Gene Michael to Japan to scout potential acquisitions for '09. That Michael was sent to Japan for the first time signifies a shift for the Yankees, who have relied on their Pacific scouts for several years. Following the disastrous signing of Kei Igawa, however, the Yankees aren't taking any chances, sending one of their most trusted talent evaluators to look at potential acquisitions. Feinsand notes that it is unclear which players the Yankees are interested in, but does list several players that could be available including right-handers Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Manny, Pavano, Gonzalez

Some Saturday mid-day linkage: Hitoki Iwase was lit up in the Olympics, possibly dropping his stock as a prospect. Iwase was one of several Japanese players being scouted by Major League clubs in Beijing. Luis Gonzalez reminisces about his trade to the Diamondbacks ten years ago. Manny Ramirez is not interested in talking about those old Philadelphia rumors. I'm shocked, shocked. J.D. Drew's back spasms are actually a herniated disk. According to Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox would love to add another outfielder, but can't seem to lay their hands on one. No offense to Jason Lane. He's baaaa-aaaack: Free-agent-to-be...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Lowell, Carroll, Saltalamacchia

Time to gather up today's links. With Mike Lowell headed to the DL, Jeff Horrigan wonders if a waiver trade for an infielder could be in order. ESPN's Buster Olney mentioned the Indians' Jamey Carroll as a possibility for the D'Backs on Monday, though he noted the two teams have not talked. Evan Grant suggests the Rangers trade Engel Beltre or Elvis Andrus for pitching this winter. Additionally, he thinks the Rangers might end up trading Jarrod Saltalamacchia rather than Gerald Laird. Aaron Gleeman revisits the '03 trade of Bobby Kielty for Shannon Stewart. Patrick Newman runs down some lesser-known...   Continue Reading

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Japanese Free Agents For '09

East Windup Chronicle points us to a list of some of the more interesting Japanese players who will be free agents after this season. Most of these guys are around 32-33 years old. Here's who we've got: Koji Uehara, SP/RP - NPB Tracker profiles him here. Tomohiro Nioka, SS - We wrote a little bit about Nioka in October of '07. Kenshin Kawakami, SP - East Windup Chronicle profiled him for us last year. Hitoki Iwase, RP - That same post also covered Iwase. Masahiro Araki, 2B - Hit .263/.296/.302 in '07 - not much with the bat. Hirokazu Ibata,...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Gallardo, NPB, Braves

Today's link collection... Check out the latest MLB Roundup video. The crew hands out April awards, assesses Billy Beane's gameplan, and looks at Jeff Ma's third-place Tout Wars team. RotoAuthority helps Yovani Gallardo owners pick up the pieces and find a replacement (he has a torn ACL). The Brewers have guys they can plug in but Gallardo seemed primed for a stellar season. They'll keep an eye on the trade market. Mike Hampton could retire, but it's highly unlikely that he'll abandon the rest of his '08 salary. Nippon Professional Baseball might shorten the tenure needed for free agency, except...   Continue Reading

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Hiroki Kuroda Coming To MLB

Hiroki Kuroda has publicly made the decision to leave Japan to pursue a career in MLB. The L.A. Times reports the Mariners, D'Backs, Dodgers, and Royals as interested parties. The Mariners already have a four-year offer out to him. The Phillies, Cubs, Rangers, and Mets might be considered on the fringes of this pursuit, as all have been linked to him in the past   Continue Reading

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Profiling More Japanese Pitchers

You may have enjoyed a recent MLBTR post called Ranking Japanese Pitchers, written by Aaron and Jackson of East Windup Chronicle. Now they're back with summaries on four more Japanese pitchers who may come over to MLB for the 2008 season. Kazuo Fukumori, Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Yukinaga Maeda were pegged by Nikkan Sports as MLB possibilities. Summaries from Aaron and Jackson follow. Kazuo Fukumori - Might have emerged as a top-flight closer on a better team, but best years may have been wasted playing for expansion Rakuten Golden Eagles. Still, saved 21 games and was an All-Star in..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Burrell, Furcal, Rolen

Two of my favorite local blogs have good hot stove posts for us today as part of Odds and Ends. Bleed Cubbie Blue has a Cubs source indicating the Cubs are serious about both Hiroki Kuroda and Kosuke Fukudome. They could be signed quickly and fill team needs. This info jives with the recent info from Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. While Kuroda recently filed for free agency, he's open to offers from MLB and Hiroshima. South Side Sox has their suggested offseason plan up for the White Sox. I like the idea of acquiring Pat Burrell and/or Rafael..   Continue Reading

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