Junichi Tazawa

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Tazawa, Kawakami, Lugo

By Tim Dierkes | November 5, 2008 at 4:03pm CDT

Collecting today’s Red Sox rumors and links…

Nick Cafardo says the Red Sox did not meet with C.C. Sabathia’s agent and he doesn’t appear to be in their plans.
The Sox are eyeing southpaw reliever Billy Traber, according to WEEI’s Alex Speier.
Scott Boras believes Derek Lowe would be a good fit in Boston or New York. Nick Cafardo says Lowe would like to return to Boston, maybe even at a slight discount.
Jason Bay’s agents say he’s loving Boston and is open to a contract extension.
When asked about the possibility of Manny Ramirez signing with the Yankees, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein basically said it’s not his concern.
Otherwise, the theme of Epstein’s comments was flexibility. Justin Masterson could be a starter or reliever, and Epstein won’t get hung up on acquiring any one player.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox are heavily involved on Junichi Tazawa, though the Braves and Mariners are after him as well. The Sox also like Kenshin Kawakami and may have interest in Paul Byrd and Javier Vazquez.
Cafardo believes the Mets and White Sox have interest in Julio Lugo. It would have to be a bad contract swap. Cafardo adds that the Red Sox view Jacoby Ellsbury as their starting center fielder, and there has been trade interest in Coco Crisp.
Boston’s luxury tax threshold for 2009 is $160.5MM.
By tomorrow the Red Sox should receive the Jason Varitek book compiled by the Boras corporation. Boras gave a ridiculous Varitek pitch to the media; click the link for quotes. Epstein will meet with Boras today to discuss his clients.
The Red Sox plan to talk to the Rangers, with Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Gerald Laird as possibilities. For Teagarden, the Red Sox would probably have to give up Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden.

Odds and Ends: Twins, Big Unit, Rockies

By Tim Dierkes | November 5, 2008 at 1:32pm CDT

Links and tidbits for Wednesday. Remember to check back on this post for updates!

Dave Cameron notes that the Elias rankings screwed over Damaso Marte by making him a Type A. See also: Doug Brocail, Bob Howry, Darren Oliver.
Remember to check out the Previous Entries link at the bottom of the website, as stories get buried pretty quickly in times like these.
Japanese outfielder Saburo Ohmura (link in Japanese) would be fine with a minor league deal.
Roch Kubatko has info on what it might take to trade for Khalil Greene or Jack Wilson.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly confirmed the team’s interest in Junichi Tazawa. For what it’s worth, Coonelly wouldn’t rule out Derek Lowe when asked.
Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times offers his thoughts on the rumor mill.
Official Elias rankings for the AL and NL.
Ballplayers are in for a tax bump under the Obama administration. They’ll manage.
The Twins are looking for righthanded pop.
The D’Backs have just $3-5MM budgeted for Randy Johnson.
The Hanshin Tigers are eyeing Nelson Cruz, Kevin Mench, and Jose Bautista. Only Mench is a free agent of the three.
The Rockies are looking for a lefty reliever, according to Troy Renck and Keith Law. How about Jeremy Affeldt again?
Brewers GM Doug Melvin doesn’t like his C.C. Sabathia offer being called window dressing.

Marlins Rumors: Max Ramirez, Pavano, Rhodes

By Tim Dierkes | November 5, 2008 at 9:59am CDT

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has the latest on the Marlins.

The Marlins have had informal talks with the Rangers regarding catcher Max Ramirez. The Fish are willing to trade lefty Scott Olsen, though the Rangers are wary of his makeup and home run tendencies. The Marlins are OK with their in-house options if they can’t work out a trade. The Marlins aren’t interested in Gerald Laird.
The Marlins may consider bringing Carl Pavano back to Florida, the site of his last success.
Luis Gonzalez, Mark Hendrickson, Paul Lo Duca, and Arthur Rhodes are the Marlins’ free agents. Of the four, Rhodes stands a chance of being re-signed. However, the Marlins have not spoken to Rhodes’ agent in weeks.
Juan C. Rodriguez reports that despite reports, the Marlins are not in on Junichi Tazawa.

Braves Offer Tazawa Major League Contract

By Tim Dierkes | November 4, 2008 at 8:09pm CDT

8:09pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mariners scouts met with Tazawa today. The Yankees will not pursue Tazawa.

7:25pm: O’Brien has more. He says the Braves made a multiyear offer to Tazawa, and will know his decision in a few weeks. In an earlier post, O’Brien passed along a rumor that the Braves’ offer topped the $6MM Pedro Alvarez received.

4:10pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves offered Junichi Tazawa a Major League contract. O’Brien says the Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, and Marlins are also interested in the 22 year-old pitcher. This offer could put the Braves in the lead, but the dollar amount is unknown.

Odds and Ends: El Duque, Tazawa, Ausmus

By Tim Dierkes | November 4, 2008 at 4:00pm CDT

Links for Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Odds and Ends posts, as I update them throughout the day with minor links.

The Jays may no longer have A.J. Burnett under contract, but they continued their claiming frenzy by adding pitcher Les Walrond.
The A’s re-hired Jason Giambi’s strength coach. Does it mean anything?
The Cardinals remain intrigued by the idea of bringing Edgar Renteria back.
The Dodgers bought out catcher Gary Bennett for $50K; he’s a free agent now.
Mike Cameron thinks C.C. Sabathia has a good chance of re-signing with the Brewers. He says Sabathia could be a pioneer by taking less money to stay.
Yahoo’s Tim Brown says Orlando Hernandez is working out and intends to play next year. He did not pitch in the Majors at all this year due to foot injuries.
Dylan Hernandez chatted with Scott Boras last week.
The New York Daily News discusses Baseball Prospectus’ Nate Silver, whose political website is immensely popular.
Patrick Newman points out that Junichi Tazawa will not be the first Japanese amateur to sign with an MLB team.
Buster Olney says Brad Ausmus wants to play in 2009 if it’s close to his San Diego home. The Dodgers could be one possibility.

NPB Rumors: Tazawa, Iwase, Iguchi

By Tim Dierkes | November 3, 2008 at 9:21pm CDT

Some Japanese baseball-related rumors, courtesy of Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker:

Seven teams have surfaced in Japanese media reports as suitors for free agent amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa: the Red Sox, Braves, Mariners, Pirates, Tigers, Cubs, and Phillies. David O’Brien of the AJC says the Braves are "legit players" for Tazawa. The Red Sox are seen as the frontrunner, according to Paul Hoynes. Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald agrees that Boston is in the lead, and adds the Marlins to the mix.
Reliever Hitoki Iwase will remain in Japan. Shortstop Tomohiro Nioka is a free agent, but may not necessarily come to MLB.
So Taguchi and Tadahito Iguchi may return to Japan for the ’09 season.
Saburo Ohmura is a 32 centerfielder with an eye on MLB. Newman tells me he profiles as more of a fourth outfielder.

Odds And Ends: Street, Schilling, Tigers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 1, 2008 at 12:44pm CDT

Links for Saturday…

Huston Street tries to ignore the chatter, but realizes he might be traded before the season starts.
Curt Schilling’s Red Sox career is probably over, writes MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said the Tigers are open to improving the team in creative ways, but he’s not looking to trade away the team’s "core players."
Other than Justin Verlander and Armando Galarraga, there’s a whole lot of uncertainty in the Tigers’ 2009 rotation, writes Jon Paul Morosi.
It looks like the Mets won’t trade Carlos Delgado. Instead, they’ll focus on rebuilding their bullpen and improving in left field and at second base.
Junichi Tazawa will meet with the Mariners and Braves Tuesday. Now the Phillies are in the mix for his services, too.

Tazawa Not Selected In Japanese Draft

By Tim Dierkes | October 30, 2008 at 10:04am CDT

According to an AP/ESPN report, the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams adhered to Junichi Tazawa’s request not to draft him. Tazawa, a 22 year-old righty, has reportedly been scouted by the Red Sox, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, and Mariners.

Odds and Ends: Prior, Mulder, Cameron

By Tim Dierkes | October 22, 2008 at 10:24am CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Mark Prior hopes to return to the Padres, according to a blogger who talked to him at a pumpkin patch. That wheelbarrow looks a bit heavy…
I am still digging through the many applications for the Saturday morning position – thanks for your interest. Tons of great candidates in the mix.
Viva El Birdos reflects on Mark Mulder’s time with the Cardinals. Mulder is trying everything he can to get back to his old self.
Dave Cameron names Mike Cameron the top free agent bargain of last offseason.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman looks at how the Rays were built.
Joe Posnanski looks at the divergent paths of the Royals and Rays.
Sox Machine considers some free agent fits for the White Sox.
Mets owner Jeff Wilpon spoke about "addition by subtraction" in a recent radio interview.
I agree with this take on the Mark Ellis signing.
Patrick Newman believes NPB will eventually soften its stance toward Junichi Tazawa.
Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald doesn’t like the idea of the Red Sox shifting things around to accomodate Mark Teixeira.
The Mariners apparently have still not decided on their new GM.

Japanese Teams To Ban Defecting Amateurs

By Tim Dierkes | October 8, 2008 at 10:31am CDT

ESPN reports today that the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball teams agreed on a conditional ban for amateur players to sign overseas. The agreement was sparked by Junichi Tazawa, the 22 year-old pitcher who hopes to sign with an MLB club. It’s a two or three-year ban from playing in Japan, depending on the circumstances.

It doesn’t really sound all that discouraging. NPB apparently sent a delegation to the U.S. to discuss the situation with MLB officials. Did anything come of that meeting? Or will MLB just start signing up Japanese amateur players now?

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