Headlines

  • Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority
  • Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension
  • Blue Jays Sign Chad Green
  • Rays Extend Yandy Diaz
  • Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement
  • Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rangers Sign Yoshi Tsutsugo To Minor League Deal

By Mark Polishuk | January 15, 2023 at 7:15pm CDT

The Rangers announced that first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo has been signed to a minor league contract.  Tsutsugo’s deal contains an invitation to the Rangers’ big league Spring Training camp.

Tsutsugo came to the majors in the 2019-20 offseason, but Texas will be the fifth different organization Tsutsugo has suited up during his relatively brief time in North American baseball.   A well-regarded slugger during his NPB career, Tsutsugo has only shown brief flashes of that form in MLB, hitting .197/.291/.339 over 640 plate appearances with the Rays, Dodgers, and Pirates.

Most of Tsutsugo’s offensive production came over a 43-game, 144-PA stint with Pittsburgh in 2021, which led the Bucs to re-sign him to a one-year, $4MM deal last offseason.  Unfortunately for both sides, Tsutsugo managed only a .478 OPS over 193 PA in 2022, and he generated a sub-replacement level -1.3 fWAR.  The Pirates released Tsutsugo in August and he caught on with the Blue Jays on a minor league deal, but Toronto never gave Tsutsugo a call back up to the majors.

Now entering his age-31 season, Tsutsugo will look for a fresh start as he tries to break camp with Texas.  Tsutsugo offers a left-handed bat, a decent walk rate amidst his overall offensive struggles, and the ability to play first base and both corner outfield slots (though the Bucs only used Tsutsugo as a first baseman and DH in 2022).  It makes for something of an imperfect fit on the Rangers roster, however, since starting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and first-choice DH Brad Miller are also both left-handed hitters.  The Rangers could see Tsutsugo as another depth option for its unsettled left field picture, even if Texas might prefer to see what it has in its younger players — assuming a much more established veteran than Tsutsugo isn’t ultimately acquired to take over the everyday left field job.

Share 0 Retweet 45 Send via email0

Texas Rangers Transactions Yoshitomo Tsutsugo

MLBTR Chat Transcript
Main
Big Hype Prospects: Florial, Tiedemann, Amaya, Tovar, Vargas
View Comments (48)

Comments

  1. kiddhoff

    3 weeks ago

    Wow!

    Reply
    • Buzz Killington

      3 weeks ago

      Its gotta be past your bed time.

      Reply
  2. DeGrom Texas Ranger

    3 weeks ago

    Is this what foreign hitters turn into in the MLB?

    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      3 weeks ago

      Ohtani & Ichiro say hello.

      Reply
      • DeGrom Texas Ranger

        3 weeks ago

        But that’s just 2. There may be more, but I wonder how many have come here and how many become stars relative to US draft picks.

        Reply
        • GhostOfKevinElster

          3 weeks ago

          Matsui

        • GhostOfKevinElster

          3 weeks ago

          Choo is Korean but still foreign

        • Rsox

          3 weeks ago

          Choo was signed by the Mariners as a teenager and spent 5 years in the minors so he wasn’t really any different than any other player drafted and developed by an MLB team.

        • Ham Fighter

          2 weeks ago

          And the hundreds of Dominican republic players that have had success

      • kmk1986

        3 weeks ago

        Where’s hideki

        Reply
    • Rsox

      3 weeks ago

      No, just the marginal at best ones.

      Makes me nervous about how Yoshida transitions to MLB, especially when he is already a terrible fielder

      Reply
      • DeGrom Texas Ranger

        3 weeks ago

        Yeah. I fear that too. I thought Seiya Suzuki would be an MVP candidate, but his performance further dampens my view of Asian posted players/”free agents.” I do love Yoshida’s BB:K ratio, though, for recent seasons. That has to be something.

        Reply
        • tiredolddude

          3 weeks ago

          The Pirates had Jung Ho Kang a few years ago, a guy who really showed some promise and power. Unfortunately, he had this penchant of drinking and driving that South Korean authorities objected to
          Shame. Young man couldn’t stay out of his own way. No, he wasn’t Arenado-like, but he was a pleasant surprise for awhile

        • DeGrom Texas Ranger

          3 weeks ago

          I’m pretty sure that the drinking wasn’t really the problem; the manly lifestyle was most likely what kept him out of MLB.

        • bobsugar84

          3 weeks ago

          The Reds were ecstatic when they landed Shogo Akiyama. That didn’t go so well. Kim on the Padres ain’t exactly the offensive force he was advertised to be either. We’ll see how the Sox new guy does.

        • kmk1986

          3 weeks ago

          O ya his ouis weren’t the problem ok ??

        • TheMan 3

          2 weeks ago

          Plus he played every infield position

        • TheMan 3

          2 weeks ago

          He was busted twice for DWI in South Korea, so yea it was drinking that ruined his MLB career

        • tiredolddude

          2 weeks ago

          Nope. His story was a bit different. Language barrier and lifestyle were things he was overcoming. But South Korean judicial system precluded him being granted a work visa after his second DUI, effectively killing his career

        • snail123

          2 weeks ago

          Suzuki has been working out with Ohtani in Japan during the offseason. He’s gotten a lot bigger from what I’ve seen. He’s put on 20-30lb. Says he thinks that’s what it takes to hit in the majors. He’s got the work ethic down so I wouldn’t judge him by his rookie season with the Cubs.

    • ChupaCarlos

      3 weeks ago

      I mean, aren’t all Dominican, Cuban and Venezuelan players considered “foreign?”

      Reply
      • DeGrom Texas Ranger

        3 weeks ago

        I meant guys who are signed from another country’s major league teams instead of guys who are drafted. International drafts are one thing; guys like Ohtani, Darvish, Suzuki, etc. are in another category in my view.

        Reply
        • ChupaCarlos

          3 weeks ago

          I know, just messing with you.

        • oz10

          2 weeks ago

          You do know that there is no international draft so technically they are not drafted from the Domincan or Cuba, etc. Just FYI. the difference is the posting fee that you have to any of the Asian leagues.

  3. Yankee Clipper

    3 weeks ago

    And the rich get richer….

    Reply
    • DeGrom Texas Ranger

      3 weeks ago

      What do you mean?

      Reply
      • Yankee Clipper

        3 weeks ago

        Just joking around. Poking fun at commentary regarding higher budget teams acquiring good players.

        Reply
        • DeGrom Texas Rangers

          3 weeks ago

          This is a no joking zone sir

        • Yankee Clipper

          3 weeks ago

          1000 lashes to the boy!

  4. Buzz Killington

    3 weeks ago

    Yoshi Ranger
    Ranger Yoshi

    Reply
  5. LordD99

    3 weeks ago

    A bit surprised Tsutsugo didn’t opt to return to Japan.

    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      3 weeks ago

      Even more surprised that Marwin did.

      Reply
      • DeGrom Texas Ranger

        3 weeks ago

        Marwin Gonzalez had a career year in 2017. There is nothing suspicious about that, right? Nothing to see here; carry on…

        Reply
      • kmk1986

        3 weeks ago

        And who was gonna sign marwin??

        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          2 weeks ago

          Who wasn’t? Have you seen his 2017 numbers!

      • LordD99

        2 weeks ago

        Got go where the money is, YC!

        Reply
        • Yankee Clipper

          2 weeks ago

          I was just kidding. Marwin is toast offensively. Actually, writing this I am surprised he didn’t go to the Red Sox after all the Cora hype last season. Cora says he’s one of the best players in the MLB. Reminds me of the Yankees love affair with IKF.

  6. formerdraftpick

    3 weeks ago

    Fans already want him DFA’d from his invitation to Spring Training camp.

    Reply
  7. 1090198

    3 weeks ago

    Not any good

    Reply
  8. jaybest

    3 weeks ago

    He will not make the cut during spring training and he will opt out to return to Japan

    Reply
    • snail123

      2 weeks ago

      I read an interview with him where he said “it’s not a dream if you can easily give up on it” about his major league career. I agree with you though. He’ll be like Arihara. A year in the minors maybe and then back to Japan with a payrise that comes with having played in the majors.

      Reply
  9. Degrom Texas Rangers

    3 weeks ago

    Incredible signing!

    Reply
    • DeGrom Texas Ranger

      3 weeks ago

      You again? Smh. Get a life.

      Reply
  10. jacl

    3 weeks ago

    give him a chance and see what happens. it could be that he needed a while to figure out MLB pitching. you never know but I wouldn’t count on it.

    Reply
  11. Ghost Pepper

    3 weeks ago

    Buffalo had him in RF for the game I was at in Worcester in September.

    Reply
  12. DeGrom Texas Ranger

    3 weeks ago

    His offensive numbers with Pittsburgh in 2021 were great, and he has hit well in the minor leagues. The only place he hasn’t hit well has been MLB. His defense, though, looks really bad in terms of dWAR, fielding percentage, and range factor. I think he can still be of some worth like Josh Smith. They just need 5 of these guys for one to pan out as a regular and maybe 10 to get a star. I want to see Happ/Kepler/McCarthy here the Rangers don’t have to risk seeing all of them fail until one doesn’t.

    Reply
  13. Bill nd

    2 weeks ago

    Forget this BS, sign Adam Duvall right hand bat, good glove, probably affordable on a one year deal

    Reply
  14. mario crosby

    2 weeks ago

    Look at how many recent ex-Pirates are signing minor league deals.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority

    Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension

    Blue Jays Sign Chad Green

    Rays Extend Yandy Diaz

    Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement

    Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension

    Red Sox, Marlins Swap Matt Barnes For Richard Bleier

    Darren O’Day Announces Retirement

    Royals To Re-Sign Zack Greinke

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Royals, Red Sox Swap Adalberto Mondesi For Josh Taylor

    Red Sox Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment

    Scott Rolen Elected Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

    Red Sox Sign Adam Duvall

    Recent

    Angels Have Shown Interest In Elvis Andrus, Michael Wacha, Gary Sánchez

    Sorting Through The Orioles’ Rotation Options

    Friedman: Dodgers Won’t Trade From Roster To Avoid Luxury Tax

    Twins Appear Unlikely To Trade Max Kepler

    Orioles Outright Darwinzon Hernandez

    Cubs Sign Mark Leiter Jr. To Minor League Deal

    Pirates Sign Chris Owings To Minor League Deal

    Read The Transcript Of Today’s Chat With Former MLB Pitcher Scott Feldman

    Luis Arraez Wins Arbitration Hearing Against Marlins

    Mariners Notes: Left Field, Brash, Rotation

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version