9:01pm: The Pirates have emerged as a destination for Takahashi, according to a report from Sanspo passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The report also notes that the Dodgers are targeting other pitchers and the Mets were "moving towards an MLB contract," but couldn't agree on money.
Meanwhile, Takahashi was set to throw for teams today in Arizona, according to an article from Sponichi passed along by Newman.
2:32pm: Japaneseballplayers.com reports that Takahashi has turned down the Mets' offer as well. NPB Tracker tweets that Takahashi prefers to play on the West coast.
SUNDAY, 11:01pm: Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports that Takahashi has turned down the Orioles' offer of a minor league deal, but that doesn't mean the two sides can't work something out down the road.
SATURDAY, 4:53pm: Takahashi is being considered by the Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Pirates, and Padres tweets Jon Heyman of SI. Heyman also writes that Takahashi will pick his team soon.
Meanwhile, Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are assuming that Takahashi will sign elsewhere.
FRIDAY, 7:19pm: NPB Tracker passes along a report (via Twitter) from the Japanese publication Sponichi Annex saying that the Giants and Dodgers are in the lead for Takahashi's services, however Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle tweets that the the Giants are still waiting to hear back about their minor league offer.
THURSDAY, 2:38pm: Free agent lefty Hisanori Takahashi has minor league offers from the Red Sox, Giants, Padres, and Dodgers, according to a Sports Hochi report passed along on Twitter by NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman.
Last week, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick wrote that Takahashi seeks a big league deal and has drawn interest from the Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, and Giants. Takahashi, 35 in April, profiles as a flyball/command pitcher who can fill a swingman role.
If he understands what a hitters ballpark does to a fly ball pitcher, He will choose the Padres or the Mets assuming the Mets offer him some kind of deal.
If he understands misery and playing for nothing two months into the season, he’ll do just that
I’ll give you that. But I’d be happy just to play in the Big Leagues.
Padres were .500 2 months into 2009. They were still in the mix then. And the last two months they went 33-25. Takahashi would make the Dodgers weak and shallow starting pitching staff. Takahashi would just be an addition to one of the best bullpens in baseball in San Diego.
Padres were .500 2 months into 2009. They were still in the mix then. And the last two months they went 33-25. Takahashi would make the Dodgers weak and shallow starting pitching staff. Takahashi would just be an addition to one of the best bullpens in baseball in San Diego.
Or the Dodgers and Giants..
well for San Francisco, he’s a lefty so if he’s facing a right handed hitter the ball will leave the park in left field.
If he understands english, perhaps someone can tell him how horrible both teams are.
He could just go to MLB.com and click on the link that turns the text into Japanese. No but honestly, I think he just wants to play.
the dodgers are horrible? i guess i’ve been watching a different dodger team than you have these last two years.
pay attention to the structure. I replied to the top comment, not the comment above. I’m a Dodger fan, they’re far from horrible.
Takahashi spent Friday visiting Dodger Stadium and Saturday being shown around LA. More likely he becomes a Dodger, but he would be a nice addition to the Padres already deep and talented bullpen.
We’re in the lead for all mediocre pitchers! YES!!
Not true; I haven’t seen you guys linked to Esteban Loaiza yet 😀
He might choose the Dodgers or especially the Red Sox since they have Japanese players and he might want Japanese buddies on the team. I am not sure if Travis Ishikawa, the Giants’ Japanese American player speaks any Japanese. The Padres have no Japanese players whatsoever.
Kuroda for the Dodgers, Dice-K & Okajima Red Sox, Travis Ishikawa Giants, Akimori Pirates,
Its Akinori not Akimori. I see the Bucs signing him. They have been getting more involved in the Japanese market.
Why arent the Marlins in on this guy? As an organization the fish are starting to run out of pitching prospects. Most of our best prospects are position players! We must stay commited to developing superior pitching talent! Lets go!
He’s 35.. not a lot of developing going on.
wow i didn’t no he was 35.
sorta says it right in the post above. 🙂
I expect him to be with the Red Sox.
Me too. Anyone else?
The article above says Takahashi prefers to play on the West coast and already turned down the Mets and Orioles because of that.
The article above says Takahashi prefers to play on the West coast and already turned down the Mets and Orioles because of that.
Does anybody know anything significant about this guy? I remember all the fuss about Dice-K, but with a career 4.00 ERA, I’m not impressed. This guy might not even turn into major league talent. I’m a Giants fan but I hope the Mets get him, I mean look at that pitching staff. Fogg will probably be a spot starter, but I don’t understand that signing at all, you already know what you’re getting, crap.
he might go to the mets or red sox
he might go to the Mets or Red Sox
He might go anywhere. I see him with the Dodgers,Mets or Red Sox
I see him going anywhere. Dodgers,Mets and Red Sox are the top three
He could go anywhere. Dodgers,Mets, or the Red Sox.
He would have a better chance of being a lock on the Padres or Mets roster. Being a fly-ball/ command pitcher would also benefit him with either the Padres or Mets, even La and SF (to some degree) but Petco is NO JOKE!!
again, if he is seeking a “big league deal” the Padres or the Mets could be the likely scenario considering the competition.
Several of the Japanese publications have said one of the reasons he has not signed yet is not only because he wants a major league deal, but he prefers to start. The Padres have only offered a minor league deal to join the bullpen. No chance to start in SD.
I never implied anywhere that he would fight for a starting job! I realize he has a minor league offer, but he has a better chance sticking on the Padres MLB roster.
West coast team preference, knowing this and all the other intangibles do you see him in the starting rotation with ANY West Coast team, I don’t.
I never implied anywhere that he would fight for a starting job! I realize he has a minor league offer, but he has a better chance sticking on the Padres MLB roster.
West coast team preference, knowing this and all the other intangibles do you see him in the starting rotation with ANY West Coast team, I don’t.
Several of the Japanese publications have said one of the reasons he has not signed yet is not only because he wants a major league deal, but he prefers to start. The Padres have only offered a minor league deal to join the bullpen. No chance to start in SD.
based on the way the Pirates have been doing this off-season, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them sign him, and like AndrewMcCutchen22 said, they have been more involved with the Japanese market
I like how people have equated “not able to speak English” to “stupid”. Just because he can’t speak the language doesn’t mean he can’t find out the state of MLB teams or even go to Google and hit “translate” just like the rest of us.
whats the buzz on this guy? 4-5 starter? good or bad? reliever?
He rejected the Mets. Thank god – one more scrub is not what we need
Mets already have enough scrubs on that pitching staff. No sense in adding another.
Trueat
Trueat
Mets already have enough scrubs on that pitching staff. No sense in adding another.
Well I think that pretty much concludes he’s a Dodger.
Or giants
Or Padres lol I just had to keep the West Coast theme a goin…
Giants are saying themselves that they think he’s going elsewhere
what is the big deal about this?!?! he’s old and not even that good!! why is every single one of his moves followed!!!
Because Johnny Damon news was getting old.
haha like the comment start_wearing_purple
dont know much about this guy but can he really improve the Dodger’s solid bullpen any?
It is sounding like he’ll end up with the Dodgers, but he also sounds very much like the Japanese version of Jeff Weaver. One of them will end up as the swing man, might as well let them compete for it. Short of actually going out and getting a number one pitcher, which seems unlikely at this point, they’re doing the next best thing- filling the staff with lots of maybes and letting them battle it out. We’ve gotten good seasons out of Weaver and Belisario and, a couple of years ago Chan Ho Park, that way.
It is sounding like he’ll end up with the Dodgers, but he also sounds very much like the Japanese version of Jeff Weaver. One of them will end up as the swing man, might as well let them compete for it. Short of actually going out and getting a number one pitcher, which seems unlikely at this point, they’re doing the next best thing- filling the staff with lots of maybes and letting them battle it out. We’ve gotten good seasons out of Weaver and Belisario and, a couple of years ago Chan Ho Park, that way.
“Dodgers are targeting other pitchers”
i wonder if these pitchers they are “targeting” are more minor league contract pitchers or some pitchers that are for our rotation, like wang.