Here are today's minor moves from throughout baseball.
- The Red Sox have invited 25-year-old Japanese reliever Hideyoshi Otake to spring training, WEEI.com's Alex Speier notes. Otake comes not from NPB, but from Japan's independent Baseball Challenge League. Otake was pitching for the Toyama Thunderbirds, whose roster last year also featured former MLB pitcher Tomo Ohka (who himself recently signed with the Blue Jays).
- The Padres have signed righty reliever Blaine Boyer to a minor-league deal, the New York Post's Joel Sherman reports (on Twitter). Boyer will make $700K if he's in the Majors. Boyer, who has pitched for the Braves, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Mets, posted a 2.67 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 in 27 innings for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan last season.
Low risk move and yet another reclamation project for Balsley to work his magic.
I remember when the Mets and the TV guys were trying to convince fans that this guy was an absolute steal and could windup as a solid reliever. I think he got smacked around every time he appeared for them.
I like the amount of international depth the Sox have. I feel like it can help when it comes down to the big prospects, especially with a historically….. diversity-resistant franchise like Boston.
Otake is an unknown. Must have been pretty impressive in those tryouts the Red Sox held in Japan if they gave him an ST invite coming from an independent league in Japan. Maybe Cherington is onto something and found himself a diamond in the rough.