Former Mariners outfielder Stefen Romero has signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced. It’s a one-year contract, per Nate Heisler, Romero’s representative at REP1 Baseball (Twitter link).
Romero spent the 2017-19 seasons with the Buffaloes before signing with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles this past winter. In four seasons at Japan’s highest level, he has slashed .269/.337/.505 and hit 93 home runs over 1660 plate appearances. The 32-year-old has been particularly productive over the past two seasons, which led some MLB clubs to explore bringing him back to the United States this offseason. Instead, Romero will stay in Japan for the fifth consecutive year, returning to his original NPB organization.
A fairly well-regarded prospect in his Mariners’ days, Romero saw MLB time with Seattle between 2014-16. He managed a .195/.242/.307 line in 233 major league plate appearances.
Maybe next year MLB should have their winter meetings in Japan. Seems more signings going overseas than there have been here.
Thats probably because NPB didnt have limit on how many foreign player that they can have in their roster. But NPB team only allowed 3 foreign player play in the field, usually 2 hitters and a pitcher (SP and RP). Team usually have 4-6 foreign player in their Roster. Like Yomiuri Giants have 7 foreign player in 2020.
Unlike Korea which limit the team to only 3 foreign player both on the roster and the field.
I did not know this. Thanks for clarifying.
This signing has absolutely no relevance to MLB whatsoever.
Read the article. “Former Mariners pitcher”. That is “whatsoever” relevant to MLB. The Mariners are a team that is part of MLB. Get it now?
“This signing has absolutely no relevance to MLB whatsoever.”
Not necessarily. Franco mentioned that there was some major league interest, since Romero has posted a solid .842 OPS the past four seasons in the NPB