A couple notes related to Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball…
- The Rays have “expressed interest” in free-agent outfielders Shogo Akiyama and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Unlike Akiyama, the 28-year-old Tsutsugo was posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, so any major league team that signs him would have to pay a release fee determined by the size of his MLB deal. His 30-day posting window ends Dec. 19. Tsutsugo’s coming off a years-long run as one of Japan’s most powerful sluggers, as he eclipsed the 20-home run mark seven straight times and combined for 139 HRs over the past four seasons. Still, he didn’t crack MLBTR’s list of the top 50 free agents before the offseason, whereas Akiyama came in at No. 45 and is projected to earn a two-year, $6MM guarantee. Akiyama showed some power in Japan over the past half-decade in his own right, as he bashed 94 home runs and slashed .320/.398/.497. The 31-year-old also added 78 stolen bases, though he’s currently recovering from a broken foot suffered in October.
- Righty Angel Sanchez has inked a multi-year deal with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants, per Robert Murray (via Twitter). Interestingly, Murray says that Major League teams were willing to pay more than the $5.5MM over two years that Merrill Kelly received from the Diamondbacks last winter. However, Sanchez’s contract with the Yomiuri club topped those offers also. The hard-throwing Sanchez, who briefly appeared in the majors with the Pirates in 2017, was a successful part of SK Wyverns’ pitching staff in Korea Baseball Organization over the previous two seasons.
Let me call you back Charlie; I got a guy on the other line about some whitewalls
Izzat you Tolbert? This isn’t very funny you know.
Lol nice
The least you could’ve done is said you’re from the Yankees.
surprising we havent heard any of this news until now about Sanchez. seems like a pricetag that would have made some headlines.
Hay Jeff and Connor, the Braves can sign Akiyama to a contract right. Even though they are under an international signing ban they can sign him because he isn’t posted right? Hes a pure free agent not an international signing?
Yes, he’s a free agent.
I’m pretty sure Sánchez wanted to prove himself in Japan before trying to go back to the MLB.
Or maybe he really likes the food over there…..