Junichi Tazawa Rumors

Odds And Ends: Webb, Tazawa, Morgan, Aurilia

A few links for the morning... Today's chat starts at 2pm CST. Brandon Webb says he'll pitch next year and he hopes it's with the D'Backs, according to Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic. The team has the option of paying Webb $8.5MM or buying him out for $2MM. MLB.com's Jason Beck says the Tigers, who had interest in Junichi Tazawa last Winter, now have to face the righty as he makes his first MLB start. How about this stat, from Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post: The Nats were 21st in the majors in runs before Nyjer Morgan's arrival....   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Add Tazawa & Woodward; DFA Traber

The Red Sox called up Junichi Tazawa, acquired Chris Woodward from the Mariners and designated Billy Traber for assignment this afternoon, according to DJ Bean of WEEI.com. Tazawa pitched well in the minors, striking out 88 in 98 AA innings before pitching twice in Triple A. They acquired Woodward off of waivers, according to a team press release.   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Foulke, Feliz, Tazawa

A few links to check out on the 30th anniversary of Thurman Munson's death... Mike Ashmore of AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com wrote a feature on Keith Foulke, who is pitching with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. Foulke turned down several Triple-A offers before the season, including one from the Nationals, and admits it "probably turned out to be a little bit of a mistake." Foulke is looking to get back to majors as you'd expect, and says "“I’m going to make one last push over the last couple weeks, and we’ll see what happens." The Rangers are ready to call...   Continue Reading

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Gammons On Sheffield, Tazawa, Kearns

ESPN's Peter Gammons posted a new blog entry last night. Let's take a look. Gammons sees Gary Sheffield as a "serious comeback player of the year candidate." Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Gammons his team bid $7MM for Junichi Tazawa, but the Red Sox signed him for $3MM due to their presence in Japan. According to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, the Rangers also offered more money to reliever Chad Cordero but he preferred the West Coast. Kicking Jim Bowden while he's down: Gammons says Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns was claimed on waivers last summer but the Nationals pulled...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Tazawa, Anderson, Viciedo

A few links for Wednesday night... Ian Browne of MLB.com writes that Junichi Tazawa could probably pitch in the majors now, it just wouldn't be ideal for the pitcher's development. Newsday's Ken Davidoff breaks down the offseason's winners and losers. Lars Anderson wasn't disappointed when Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees, according to Howard Ulman of the AP (via the Boston Globe), but the Red Sox prospect says he wouldn't be doing anything differently if Tex were with Boston. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that third base prospect Dayan Viciedo could very well end up in the outfield...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Rumors: Sabathia, Youkilis, Tazawa

Red Sox rumors and links abound this morning. ESPN's Buster Olney says the Red Sox will meet with C.C. Sabathia within the next few days. It's unknown whether they have serious interest. Olney adds that the Sox hope to sign Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester long-term, in the wake of the Dustin Pedroia deal. Peter Gammons suggested a deal for Youkilis could get done quickly. Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe says GM Theo Epstein has prioritized catching. Epstein suggested more catchers may be available in trade than people think. Benjamin says the Red Sox also want to add a...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Renteria, Burnett, Delmon

Interesting linkage this Thursday evening: ESPN's Keith Law gives a thumbs up on the Giants' signing of Edgar Renteria. Jesse Spector examines comparables for A.J. Burnett. Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News suggests the Rockies could be a fit for Delmon Young. Young doesn't seem to be in Ron Gardenhire's preferred starting outfield. Tony Massarotti at the Boston Globe points out that Junichi Tazawa's signing may help mitigate the loss of a draft pick in the event that the Red Sox were to sign a Type A free agent that had been offered arbitration (examples would be Derek Lowe...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Izturis, Gaudin

Links for Thursday... Check out this week's minor league transactions. Some familiar names were signed. The Red Sox officially announced the signing of Junichi Tazawa. J.C. Bradbury likes the Dustin Pedroia contract. Sox Machine has parting words for Javier Vazquez, whose trade to the Braves was officially announced today. ESPN's Keith Law tells you all you need to know about the players involved in the deal. Tyler Flowers is the key, Santos Rodriguez the wild card. The Rockies' talks for lefty reliever Joe Beimel continue. In another article, Patrick Saunders looks at the team's wish list. Rob Neyer believes teams...   Continue Reading

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Japanese Links: Kawakami, Tazawa

A few links today involving Japanese players... Michael Silverman and Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald wrote yesterday that the Red Sox have scouted Kenshin Kawakami multiple times and he has interest in pitching for them. Kawakami figures to receive multiple bids, assuming he commits to MLB first. ESPN's Keith Law says signing Junichi Tazawa was a "no-brainer" for the Red Sox. Law figures Tazawa will start in Double A and could reach the Majors in '09. Aaron Shinsano of East Windup Chronicle respectfully disagrees; he doesn't believe Tazawa is ready for Double A. Shinsano suggests marketing played a part...   Continue Reading

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Boston Set To Sign Junichi Tazawa

SUNDAY: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe talked to a baseball source who says the Red Sox have an agreement in place with Tazawa. Look for an official announcement later in the week, after he takes his physical. It appears to be a Major League deal for $3MM over three years. He'll be arbitration-eligible after three years of big league service time. FRIDAY: Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa appears close to signing with the Boston Red Sox, reports Chad Finn at the Boston Globe. The offer for the 22-year old is reportedly a three-year, major league deal nearing $6MM, putting...   Continue Reading

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