Tomo Ohka Rumors

Yokohama BayStars Sign Tomo Ohka

The Yokohama BayStars signed pitcher Tomo Ohka, according to a Sanspo report passed along by NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman on Twitter.  Newman notes that Ohka began his career with the BayStars.  The Red Sox purchased Ohka's contract from the team in '98 and started him at Double A the following year.

Ohka, 34, posted a 5.96 ERA, 3.9 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9 in 71 innings for the Indians last year, allowing 18 home runs.  Ohka had signed with a Mexican League team in March, but was quickly released.

I profiled Ohka in December of '06, back when he was holding out for a three-year deal.  He's an interesting character.

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Odds & Ends: Lowell, Ohka, Towers, Washburn

Leftover links for Tuesday evening....

• Perhaps we shouldn't count on the Mike Lowell rumor mill immediately roaring back to life. ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes says (via Twitter) that scouts don't feel Lowell is moving very well in spring action. Of course, as Edes points out in a second tweet, the 36-year-old doesn't move overly well even when he's healthy.
• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald thinks Lowell's limited mobility isn't as big a concern as long as he's playing first base, and would like to see the Marlins go after him.
• The Quintana Roo Tigers of the Mexican League released Tomo Ohka, tweets NPB Tracker. The Tigers had just signed the Japanese right-hander last week.
• Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer assesses the progress of the players the Indians acquired in last season's Cliff Lee trade, focusing on Jason Donald.
• The Yankees have finally made their hiring of Kevin Towers official, naming him a Special Assignment Scout, per a team press release. It was first reported back in January that Towers would be joining New York's staff.
• Yesterday, we heard that the Mariners still have interest in Jarrod Washburn, but John Hickey of AOL Fanhouse tweets that the left-hander isn't close to signing yet with Seattle or anyone else.
• The Astros, not the Red Sox, signed minor-leaguer and former Mariners' first round pick, Michael Garciaparra, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
• If he were a GM tasked with signing either himself and Vladimir Guerrero, Marlon Byrd would make the same choice the Rangers did, according to ESPNDallas' Richard Durrett. Byrd says that before he signed with the Cubs, he had some preliminary discussions with Texas, adding that the Rangers' decision to sign Vladdy was a "no brainer."

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International Links: Ohka, Chen, Gotay, Jamaica

All the best in non-Cuban baseball news...

• Scouts from eight teams recently gathered to watch Taiwanese pitching prospect Min-Tzu Chen, according to Taiwan Baseball. Chen, a converted outfielder, has only been pitching for three months but reportedly already has offers in hand from the Royals and Padres.
• Tomo Ohka has agreed to a deal with the Mexican League Quintana Roo Tigers, reports Japanese Ball Players.
• Ruben Gotay isn't often mentioned in discussions about who will man third base for the Cardinals this season, and his .255/.315/.371 career numbers don't scream "slugging corner infielder." But the 28-year-old Puerto Rican utilityman tells Primera Hora's Esteban Rivera that the Cardinals signed him and invited him to spring training exclusively with the hot corner in mind. Gotay played his first full season at third at Triple A in the Diamondbacks system last season, showing newfound patience with a .272/.429/.450 line including 102 walks in 479 PAs. While he is fourth at best on the depth chart, the first two candidates, David Freese and Tyler Greene, have 150 Major League PAs combined, and Felipe Lopez has played 13 games at third in the last five years, all for the Cardinals in 2008.
• In 11 Major League seasons, Ricardo Rincon managed a 3.59 ERA and logged 565 appearances in the "G" column, but look one column to the right at "GS," and cue the rolling tumbleweeds. That's changing in the Mexican League, where the 39-year-old is trying to crack the starting rotation of the Minatitlan Oilers, according to the league site.
• MLB is partnering with the Jamaican government to build a stadium on the north side of the island in Trelawny, reports the Jamaica Observer. The complex will be the league's first-ever investment in the country, which is looking to expand its presence in international sports following the success of Usain Bolt. One current big league player, Indians pitcher Justin Masterson, was born in Jamaica.

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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 that the Yokohama BayStars are looking to import Japanese pitchers currently playing in the States. The article mentions that players like Tomo Ohka, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Masahide Kobayashi could interest the BayStars, while Patrick throws the names of Kei Igawa and Takashi Saito into the ring.
• ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. writes that Miguel Angel Sano is not the only big name Latin American free agent stuck in age investigation limbo. Venezuelan pitcher Daniel Sanchez, considered one of the best pitchers available this year, is stuck in the same boat after the Brewers put in a formal request to MLB to investigate his age. An age investigation is a prerequisite to signing any player from Latin America.

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Indians Sign Tomo Ohka

According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, the Indians signed pitcher Tomo Ohka to a minor league deal.  He spent all of '08 at Triple A, tossing 135.2 innings with a 4.18 ERA for the Triple A affiliate of the White Sox.  Ohka is an interesting character; I took a closer look at him in a post written two years ago.

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Tomo Ohka Signs With White Sox

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox have signed pitcher Tomo Ohka, who turns 32 in March.  Ohka made ten big league starts in '07 for the Jays, and the results were not pretty.  He also pitched at Triple A for the Mariners and Cardinals, ineffectively.

Ohka is an interesting character.  I wrote this profile of him over a year ago, but it's still a decent look at his history.  You might say he's had a few attitude problems.  Regardless, it doesn't hurt for the Sox to have him in Triple A as insurance.

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Cardinals Sign Tomo Ohka

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cardinals have signed free agent righty Tomo Ohka to a minor league contract.  The Phillies were in on him as well, but the Cardinals gave him a shorter minor league requirement.

The Cardinals talked to Ohka's agent last December, but must have found $1.5MM guaranteed to be prohibitive.  It's easier to swallow when the Blue Jays are paying Ohka's salary.  I think Ohka's rotator cuff is still kind of messed up, but he might be able to get by in the NL Central.

Check out my profile of Ohka here; he's an interesting character.  Unfortunately Ohka likely won't remain a Memphis Redbird long enough to run into Sun-Woo Kim of the Fresno Grizzlies.  The two engaged in fisticuffs back in 2000 as members of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

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Rosenthal's Latest

The authority on all trade rumors, Ken Rosenthal has spoken.  Let's review.

• As we have heard before, the Dodgers like Adam Dunn.  We've also discussed the fact that there's not a clear place to put him.  Whether you go with first base or left field, a veteran must move.  The Padres like Dunn as well but talks have yet to occur.  The Angels may have liked him in the past but they don't seem likely at this point.  And the Twins?  They just won't break the bank for him unfortunately.
• With Michael Barrett having issues with 40% of the Cubs' rotation, the Cubs could look to trade him.  Even though he's a top offensive catcher, his impending free agency might prevent any strong return.  Plus, the Cubs would have to go with a Henry Blanco/Koyie Hill tandem.  A more likely scenario is that the Cubs will let Barrett walk after the season.
• Finally some clarity on Eric Gagne's limited no-trade protection.  Rosenthal reveals that he can veto trades to 12 teams.  The Phillies and Indians are again mentioned as suitors.  Rosenthal thinks Mark Teixeira could generate a lot of talk but no action at the trading deadline.  Kind of like Alfonso Soriano or A.J. Burnett before him.
• The asking price for Brad Lidge, supposedly: a premium young catcher and promising young pitcher.  Lidge will probably earn $8MM next year before hitting free agency.  The Astros should be happy with a young catcher or a young pitcher, not both.  I'd mention Salty here but I think he is worth much more than Lidge.  Rosenthal says the Astros could move another bullpen arm like Wheeler or Qualls to get the bat they need. 
• Could the Devil Rays simply retain Al Reyes and Carlos Pena?  Both players could be valuable contributors to the 2008 club.  I like the idea of keeping Reyes around for next year, but I think Pena has peaked.
• Noah Lowry would get the attention of the Braves or Cardinals, but the Giants are unlikely to move him.
• The Phils are likely to pass on Tomo Ohka despite their need for pitching.

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Cards Hunting For Starters

According to Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty, there's just nothing out there on the starting pitching market.  No decent starters to acquire.  The Cardinals are doing OK in second place, 5.5 games behind the Brewers.  They still have a fine chance of sneaking into the rotation, but need to upgrade their patchwork rotation.  St. Louis starters have combined for a 5.25 ERA, easily the worst in the league.  Even worse than the Nationals.

Joe Strauss's article mentions some mild interest in Tomo Ohka, who was designated for assignment yesterday by the Blue Jays.  The Cardinals talked to Ohka's agent last December but couldn't get a deal done.

Jocketty is, of course, exaggerating in saying nothing's available.  Here are some names for you: Wade Miller, Josh Fogg, Mike Maroth, Odalis Perez, Brett Tomko, Jon Lieber, John Thomson, Tony Armas.  Now, if you're talking good starters, well, that always requires a decent bounty.  Mark Buehrle should become available soon, and the Marlins would probably listen on Dontrelle Willis.  A mid-tier guy who could work is Paul Byrd.  Any other ideas for the Redbirds?

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Blue Jays To Offer Up Towers, Ohka

Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi has told teams that starters Josh Towers and Tomo Ohka are available, according to the Toronto Sun.  The Jays will pick up some salary, too. The Sun's Bob Elliott dogs Ricciardi for not giving Jeff Suppan the four year, $42MM he got from Milwaukee.  I think Ricciardi made the right decision there - instead of owing Suppan $12.5MM in 2010, he can already get off the hook for Ohka and John Thomson.  Suppan wouldn't have a 2.54 ERA right now had he been pitching in the AL East.   

Aside from the 1-2 punch of Halladay and Burnett, the Jays will go young in the rotation.  They've got nothing to lose with such a strategy, and maybe the kids will be primed to succeed in '08.

Towers, 30, earns $2.9MM this season.  However, he won't be a free agent until after the 2009 season, by my count.  He has pinpoint control and pitches to contact.  The approach has worked when he's managed to keep the hits per nine innings under 11.  It's failed miserably otherwise.  Oddly, PECOTA sees Ohka as Towers' #2 comparable.  Check out some other names in his top fifteen comps: John Burkett, Lew Burdette, Early Winn, and Brad Radke.  There are certainly scenarios under which Towers has a successful big league career.  They probably involve the National League.

Ohka, 31, earns $1.5MM this year with additional incentives for games started.  I wrote an extensive profile on him here.  Two things to know about Ohka: he's pitching with a strained rotator cuff, and he's got a fiery personality (to put it lightly).  Since he signed late, many teams are on record having interest in Ohka last winter: the Cardinals, Mariners, Nationals, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Mets.  He was actually trying for a three-year deal. 

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