Masahide Kobayashi Rumors

Odds & Ends: Hillman, White Sox, Japanese Pitchers

Let's start the evening off by rounding up a few spare links... According to The Associated Press (via ESPN), Royals manager Trey Hillman will return to the team next season. Kansas City GM Dayton Moore, who originally hired Hillman, had his contract extended through 2014 earlier this week. White Sox GM Kenny Williams was asked if the Jim Thome and Jose Contreras trades indicate that he was throwing in the towel according to Scot Gregor of The Daily Herald, and Williams replied "Hell no. We're still in it to win it.” Patrick at NPB Tracker passes along a report saying...   Continue Reading

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Indians Release Masa Kobayashi

According to Japan's Sponichi, via NPB Tracker, Masahide Kobayashi was granted his release from the Indians on Sunday afternoon. The 35-year-old right-hander was demoted to Triple-A in mid-May and there were rumors at the time that his release might be imminent. Here's what Tim said back then: The Indians signed Kobayashi to a two-year, $6.25MM deal in November of 2007. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but he posted a 5.10 ERA and 5.4 K/9 in 65.3 innings in his Tribe career. And here's what Kobayashi shared with the media Sunday: “Nothing is decided at the moment...   Continue Reading

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Masahide Kobayashi Sent Down

10:19am: Castrovince says Kobayashi has accepted an assignment to Triple-A Columbus. Reliever Tony Sipp was also optioned to Columbus. The Indians also purchased the contract of reliever Greg Aquino who will join the ballclub today. To make room for Aquino, Scott Lewis was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. SATURDAY, 8:08pm: According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, Indians reliever Masahide Kobayashi will be removed from the 40-man roster tomorrow to make room for David Huff. Castrovince says it's unclear how this will be done - Kobayashi could be optioned to Triple A if he consents. He wants to stay...   Continue Reading

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Indians Sign Luis Vizcaino

THURSDAY: 10:45am: Waiting For Next Year writes that the Indians will have to make another move before next Saturday, when Sowers was scheduled to start. Pitchers David Huff and Zach Jackson are the leading candidates for a call-up. "When this decision is made," writes WFNY, "expect the Masa Kobayashi experience to come to an end." 9:38am: According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians announced the signing of Vizcaino to a Major League deal today. Instead of releasing Masahide Kobayashi, the club demoted Jeremy Sowers. WEDNESDAY: Waiting with bated breath to see what happens with free agent reliever Luis Vizcaino?...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Byrd, Fox, Kobayashi

Links for Monday... MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians signed 31 year-old reliever Blaine Neal to a minor league deal. Here's a look at Neal's minor league work - nice job for the Tigers' Triple A club last year. Masahide Kobayashi explains why he's struggled in the U.S., talking to Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro wrote on Thursday that free agent pitcher Paul Byrd has a $3MM asking price. It might be time for Chad Fox to hang up the spikes. He owns a 3.79 ERA in 228 career innings. Would've been 3.45, without his...   Continue Reading

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Masahide Kobayashi Signs With Indians

UPDATE: The deal is done - Kobayashi gets $6MM guaranteed over 2008-09 and has a $3.25MM club option for 2010. This seems like a fine Indians-esque bargain. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Indians are close to signing Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi. The 33 year-old is taking his physical today. The Braves and Mariners were also known to have interest in him. It's been said that Kobayashi would prefer to close but it's not a dealbreaker. Here's what Bob Bavasi of JapanBall told me about Kobayashi: This closer was the number one draft pick by the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1999...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Glavine, Kent, Kuroda

Picking up some rumors and tidbits that haven't been otherwise posted during this busy day... An Atlanta TV station states that Tom Glavine would take a lot less money to play for the Braves. Also, the Astros have reportedly been in touch with him. Joe Torre senses that Jeff Kent will return in 2008. The Dodgers certainly hope so; he led the team with 20 home runs in '07. Trey Hillman took a parting shot at Japanese reporters (hat tip to JapanBall). Reliever Masafumi Hirai might come over to MLB. I'll have to learn more about him. Hiroki Kuroda prefers..   Continue Reading

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Fukudome, Kuroda, Kobayashi Rumors

Here's a link chock full of rumors involving Japanese ballplayers who might come over to MLB. It's also loaded with links most of you will not be able to read. Masahide Kobayashi, the 33 year-old righthanded closer, will be represented by SFX. Fellow free agents Kerry Wood and Jorge Julio are also using that agency, as far as I can tell. Hiroki Kuroda is expected to fill for free agency on Monday. Since there's no posting fee involved, some have speculated his salary could exceed Daisuke Matsuzaka's. Matsuzaka will earn an average of $8.66MM per season during his six-year deal,..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Lincecum, Wakefield, Schilling

More random rumors. You know you love it. Tracy Ringolsby has some hot stove musings. It's a fairly sloppy article with one new tidbit: "Tim Lincecum can be had for a quality bat." Either Ringolsby is misinformed, or Brian Sabean has lost it. Lincecum has Cy Young potential. A couple of Red Sox mainstays will stay for '08 - Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez. Wake was a no-brainer at his perpetual $4MM, while Tavarez was debatable at $3.85MM. Tavarez expected it to be declined, since the team left him off the World Series roster. The Ms will decide very soon..   Continue Reading

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Ranking Japanese Pitchers

By my count there are five Japanese pitchers who stand a good chance of jumping over to MLB for the 2008 season. I asked Aaron Shinsano and Jackson Broder of East Windup Chronicle to rank them for us and write a short description for each. Another knowledgable friend, Tak Iwanaga, also added some info below. 1. Hitoki Iwase - Iwase was on the hill for the tail end of last night's perfect game, the Japan Series clinching victory for the Chunichi Dragons. The lefty closer has 40+ saves three years running with a career 1.91 ERA. Tops out at around..   Continue Reading

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