One source said the teams most likely to have a shot at Sasaki are West Coast clubs and those that have signed Japanese players in the past. Aside from the Dodgers and Padres, the Giants, Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, Cubs and Rangers were among those mentioned by executives....
Wolfe said he hadn’t yet discussed desired destinations with Sasaki and didn’t know whether he had a geographic preference, was inclined to join teams with histories of Japanese players or desired large or small markets. Sasaki’s relationship with reporters in Japan has not been smooth. “Th...
After the 2017 season, MLB teams lined up to try to sign Ohtani, a two-way star touted as the Japanese Babe Ruth. He ultimately selected the Angels after a lengthy process that included pitches from just about every club. The signing paid immediate dividends, as he entered the season as ...
During September, he was solid, with a 3-0 win/loss record and 3.55 ERA in five starts. He also became the first Japanese pitcher in MLB history to record at least 2000 strikeouts when he fanned Luis Robert of the White Sox on September 22. “Very grateful,...
NEW YORK (AP) — Japanese pitcher Koyo Aoyagi was posted to Major League Baseball teams and will be available to sign as a free agent through 5 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 17. Aoyagi, a 5-foot-11 right-hander who turns 31 next Wednesday, was 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 12 games this year...
Japanese star Seiya Suzuki will get the chance to sign with a Major League Baseball team before the 2022 season, MLB.com reported.
The sweepstakes for 23-year-oldJapanese flamethrower Roki Sasakicould be nearing its conclusion. Sasaki, whose representation said he was open to playing for all 30 teams, is now reportedly down to two franchises as he nears a decision. ...
For those dumped players, finding another suitor could be challenging since other teams also presumably have handshake agreements for huge percentages of their pools. Last year, 290 contracts were finalized the day the window opened. Clubs appear to be holding off on some agreements t...
Each spring, fans rejoice as MLB teams kick off their 162-game season, with players across the National and American leagues vying for their shot at the prolific World Series trophy. But off the baseball diamond, there's just as much fanfare around MLB wives and girlfriends as the athletes...
The second Japanese player inMLBwas Hideo Nomo, who started a trend with his immediate success. But MLB teams must often pay exorbitant fees to Japanese teams just for the right to negotiate with players. This keeps the stream of Japanese players at a relative trickle compared to Caribbean cou...