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Nippon Professional Baseball news, rumors

  • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    Al Yellon The Cubs participated in the games, but they still have a long way to go in Japan. TOKYO — The window display you see above is in a random store in the Shibuya District in Tokyo. The Shibuya Crossing is one of the most famous spots in Tokyo; I wrote a bit about it the other day. But it’s not just in random stores in Shibuya where you see images of Shohei Ohtani. It’s literally e...2025
    See more articles Shohei Ohtani headline news
  • Yuki Matsui proving to be a dependable bullpen piece
    • Yuki Matsui proving to be a dependable bullpen piece
    Yuki Matsui | Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Lefty enters year two with San Diego Yuki Matsui signed with the Padres in 2024 and proved to be an effective and dependable arm out of the bullpen in his first season. He appeared in 64 games and finished with a 3.73 ERA. This was not a surprise to the leadership in San Diego because Matsui had just completed his 10th season in the Ni...2025
  • Hyeseong Kim Opens Up on Transition to MLB, Competition With Dodgers
    • Hyeseong Kim Opens Up on Transition to MLB, Competition With Dodgers
    The Los Angeles Dodgers have a pair of rookies who made the jump to stateside baseball this offseason. While Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki hailed from Nippon Professional Baseball, infielder Hyeseong Kim came from the Korean Baseball Organization. More news: Freddie Freeman Says Ankle Injury Still Bothering Him After First Cactus League Game for Dodgers Kim …...2025
    Click for news about Hyeseong Kim rumors
  • Royals Rumblings - News for February 28, 2025
    • Royals Rumblings - News for February 28, 2025
    Need another pitcher? I Noah guy. | Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images Spring Training is in full swing! This is going to feel a little backwards as our OT is up at the top today, sort of. It’s been brought to my attention that a number of AI bots are harvesting our articles and either cutting-and-pasting them, slightly rewriting them and publishing them as their own, or, my favorite, turni...2025
  • Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
    • Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
    Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Colorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, February 27, 2025 “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” This sport, amongst the oldest and most storied of our country’s traditions, has graced us as fans with moments of absolute elation and unparalleled joy. José Bautista’s home run against the Rangers, David Freese’s triple in 201...2025
    See more articles Colorado Rockies headline news
  • MLB needs to copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off
    • MLB needs to copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off
    Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The All-Star Game is dead. Long live the All-Star Game. As I begin writing this, the United States of America and Canada are tied 2-2 going into the third period of the finals of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL’s new international tournament that replaced its regular All-Star Game. The USA and Canada make up half the squads with Finland and Sweden being the...2025

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Nippon Professional Baseball injury and suspension

  • Brewers sign Elvin Rodríguez to major league deal, DFA J.B. Bukauskas
    • Brewers sign Elvin Rodríguez to major league deal, DFA J.B. Bukauskas
    Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Brewers continue to fill out their roster with minor and major league deals ahead of spring training, adding Jorge Alfaro yesterday The Milwaukee Brewers have signed right-handed relief pitcher Elvin Rodríguez to a major league deal. The contract is a one-year deal with a club option for the 2026 season. The Brewers designated J.B. Bukauskas for assignment to mak...2025
  • • NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero
    Relief pitcher Jimmy Cordero signed a contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The team announced the move yesterday. Cordero reached free agency last month after being non-tendered by the Yankees. On July 5, MLB had leveled a season-ending suspension after determining that Cordero had violated the domestic violence, sexual assault and…...2023
  • • Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
    Free-agent right-hander Trevor Bauer has agreed to a one-year, $4MM deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, as first reported by Japan’s Sankei Sports (Twitter link). Bauer had previously been suspended for 324 games under MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Back in December, commissioner Rob Manfred…...2023
  • • Hot Stove is cold as ice for White Sox, sizzling for others
    Rumors of White Sox interest proved about $10 million too light, as the cocky Cubs inked Cody Bellinger for nearly his estimated arb figure. | Ronald Martinez/Getty Images We wait for scraps as Phillies, Guardians and Cubs feast The biggest news out of Tuesday’s Winter Meetings was the MLB draft lottery. My fantastic teammate at South Side Sox, Allie Wesel, has the full draft coverage for ...2022
    Continue with Hot Stove injury
  • • Daisuke Matsuzaka To Retire After 2021 NPB Season
    Veteran right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will retire following the 2021 season, as per an announcement from the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (hat tip to The Kyodo News).  The 40-year-old last pitched during the 2019 NPB season and hasn’t since been able to get back onto the mound after undergoing cervical spine surgery last…...2021
  • • Nippon Professional Baseball postpones start of season due to coronavirus
    Nippon Professional Baseball is postponing the beginning of its 2020 season due to the spread of the coronavirus, per Jeff Passan and Jim Allen. NPB commissioner Atsushi Saito announced the decision following an emergency meeting with representatives for the 12 teams. “How must we (pro baseball) act? We must protect the players, staff, families, but no one more so than the fans” Saito said, via Ji...2020
  • • Hisashi Iwakuma to return to Japan
    Veteran right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma tells Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times that he will conclude his tenure with the Mariners and return to his native Japan. That does not mean, however, that he’s calling his playing career quits.Iwakuma had been trying to return from shoulder surgery, but only made it to a pair of rehab appearances. While he was not able to get all the way back to the big league...2018
  • • Koji Uehara signs with NPB's Yomiuri Giants
    After a terrific nine-year run in Major League Baseball, veteran reliever Koji Uehara has returned to the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced (link via the Japan Times). Carlos Yamakazi of the Tokyo Sports Press had previously tweeted that Uehara would sign there and that the deal would be announced today.Now entering his age-43 season, Uehara began his profe...2018
    Click for news about Koji Uehara injury update
  • • Nate Schierholtz Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
    2016
  • • Nate Schierholtz Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
    2016
    See more articles Craig Calcaterra injury status

Nippon Professional Baseball lifestyle

  • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    Photo by Harry How/Getty Images The late-night/early-morning spot for Cubs fans asks if Robert Suarez is worth the price. It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come in out of the cold. There’s no cover charge this evening. Let us check your coat. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverag...2025
    Read about Robert Suarez
  • • Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
    2016
    Click for news about Oakland Athletics

Timeline

  • 2025
    "Prior to the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball officially posting right-hander Roki Sasaki for major league clubs last month, Major League Baseball conducted an investigation before authorizing Sasaki’s posting."

  • 2024
    "Speculation about the likelihood of star Nippon Professional Baseball right-hander being likely to sign with the Dodgers — or even having a predetermined “handshake” deal to sign in L."

  • 2023
    "Trevor Bauer is finalizing a one-year contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan."

  • 2022
    "Ohtani had never hit a grand slam in either MLB or Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball"

  • 2021
    "Pittsburgh was the third organization of the season for the 29-year-old Tsutsugo — a star with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball who’d struggled since signing a two-year contract with the the Rays."

  • 2020
    "Nippon Professional Baseball remains on hold because of the pandemic"

  • 2019
    "According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, via Twitter, Jones is in talks with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes on a contract."

  • 2018
    "Both the Kyodo News and Japan Times report that the 36-year-old Aoki has agreed to a three-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball."

  • 2017
    "MLB, Nippon Professional Baseball and the MLB Players Association have agreed in principle on new terms of the posting system that would allow Japanese players to move to the Major Leagues."

  • 2016
    "Nine offseasons ago, the Red Sox and Yankees combined to invest nearly $150 million in Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kei Igawa -- a pair of pitchers from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball."

  • 2015
    "Tanaka still has the pedigree, both from his dominant (if injury-marred) rookie campaign in 2014 and his years of excellence with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball."

  • 2014
    "Hiroki Kuroda is returning to Japan to pitch for Nippon Professional Baseball, according to multiple reports."

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Nippon Professional Baseball trade rumors, contract, salary rumors

  • • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    2025
    Continue with Shohei Ohtani
  • • Yuki Matsui proving to be a dependable bullpen piece
    2025
  • • Royals Rumblings - News for February 28, 2025
    2025
    Click for news about Spring Training trade rumors
  • • MLB needs to copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off
    2025
  • • Brewers sign Elvin Rodríguez to major league deal, DFA J.B. Bukauskas
    2025
    Read about Jorge Alfaro salary
  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    See more articles Robert Suarez salary
  • • NPB’s Orix Buffaloes Close To Signing Edward Olivares
    The Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball are close to a deal with outfielder Edward Olivares, according to multiple reports out of Japan and Venezuela.  Olivares signed a minor league contract with the Mets last month, but it seems as though New York will be releasing (or has already released) Olivares so he can pursue…...2025
  • • NPB’s Orix Buffaloes Sign Jordan Diaz
    The Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed former A’s infielder Jordan Diaz. Reports out of Japan first emerged in November that the Buffaloes were nearing a deal with the Colombian-born infielder, but the contract was not finalized until Wednesday. Diaz, a right-handed hitter who spends most of his time…...2025
  • • Nick Nelson Signs With NPB’s Hanshin Tigers
    Right-hander Nick Nelson has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, per an announcement from Beverly Hills Sports Council, his agency. It’s a one-year deal worth $1MM plus incentives. Phillies Tailgate reported last week that the two sides were in negotiations. Nelson, 29, pitched in each of the past five major league…...2024
    Continue with Nick Nelson trade rumors
  • • Naoyuki Uwasawa Signs With NPB’s SoftBank Hawks
    Right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa’s foray into North American ball will come to a close after one season. The SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed the 30-year-old righty to a four-year contract (link via The Mainichi). Uwasawa signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Rays last offseason as he looked to…...2024

Nippon Professional Baseball stats and results

  • • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    2025
    Visit the page Shohei Ohtani stats
  • • Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
    2025
    Visit the page Colorado Rockies scores
  • • Latest On Asian Baseball Leagues’ Attempts To Resume Play
    If Asia’s top professional baseball leagues represent a preview of what MLB can expect when it tries to get back to play, then the results are mixed — and remain largely indeterminate. Let’s catch up on the latest … Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball is back on ice, as Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times writes.…...2020
  • • Pitching notes: How will the Rangers utilize Tim Lincecum?
    Reliever Koji Uehara says that he is open to considering offers from teams in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, as the Japan Times recently reported. That’s something of a reversal from the 42-year-old reliever, who had indicated he did not intend to play again in his homeland. After preparing for the MLB season, but finding interest scant, Uehara now says he has changed his mind and wo...2018
  • • Ichiro Suzuki's Contract Option Picked Up by Marlins: Latest Details, Reaction
    2016
  • • MLB Team of the Week: Edwin Encarnacion, J.D. Martinez and Colby Lewis Star
    2016
    Click for news about Edwin Encarnacion
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
    Click for news about Ichiro Suzuki scores
  • • 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
    2016
    Read about Kris Bryant stats
  • • Kenta Maeda Looking Like Huge Bargain Ready for Bright Lights of Los Angeles
    2016
    Click for news about Kenta Maeda stats
  • • Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
    2016

Nippon Professional Baseball parents, kids, wife / husband, girlfriend / boyfriend

  • • Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
    2025
    Continue with Colorado Rockies
  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    See more Robert Suarez
  • Tuesday Rockpile: Do the Rockies have a shot at signing Roki Sasaki?
    • Tuesday Rockpile: Do the Rockies have a shot at signing Roki Sasaki?
    Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images Colorado Rockies news and links for Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Anyone who watched the 2023 World Baseball Classic surely found themselves wowed by Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. A 100+ mph fastball coupled with a killer splitter (as in one of the best in the world) can do that. At the time, Sasaki — a pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines — was only 21, so...2024
    See more articles Roki Sasaki
  • Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the Bay
    • Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the Bay
    Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Matt Chapman returns to the Bay Area, but on the other side. The owners want a signing deadline. And more news from Spring Training. Good morning. If you want to feel old, Darren Baker is 1 for 5 for the Nationals in five games in Spring Training. And if you don’t remember who that is, then you probably aren’t old. The Giants signed...2024
    See more Matt Chapman
  • • NPB/KBO Notes: Smoak, Sparkman, Freitas
    Veteran first baseman Justin Smoak, who’d signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball over the winter, has returned to the United States to be with his family, the Japan Times recently reported. The 34-year-old switch-hitter was productive in his limited run for the second-place Giants, slashing .272/.336/.482 with seven homers and three…...2021
    Continue with Justin Smoak
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
    Visit the page Ichiro Suzuki
  • • 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
    2016
    Visit the page Kris Bryant
  • • Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
    2016
    Check it out Oakland Athletics
  • • Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
    2016
    Check it out Los Angeles Dodgers
  • • How the LA Dodgers Can Still Build a 2016 Powerhouse After January 1
    2015
    See more articles Los Angeles Dodgers

Top Nippon Professional Baseball news

  • • Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits first career grand slam in two-homer game vs. Rays
    2022
    Read about Shohei Ohtani
  • • Kuroda reportedly returning to Japan to pitch
    2014
    See also Hiroki Kuroda
  • • Source: Deal reached; Ohtani can be posted
    2017
  • • History suggests Maeda will be a good value
    2016
    See more articles Red Sox
  • • History suggests Maeda will be a good value
    2016
    See also Red Sox
  • Sources: Bauer finalizing deal to play in Japan
    • Sources: Bauer finalizing deal to play in Japan
    2023
    Visit the page Trevor Bauer
  • • Has Nathan Eovaldi Surpassed Masahiro Tanaka as Yankees' True Ace?
    2015
    Visit the page Masahiro Tanaka
  • • Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
    2023
    Read about Trevor Bauer

Baseball Fame Ranking

  • 1. White Sox

  • 2. World Series

  • 3. Red Sox

  • . . .

  • 438. Nippon Professional Baseball

Nippon Professional Baseball fantasy rankings and news

  • • 2015 Yankees Could Be Perfect Fit for 6-Man Rotation Experiment
    2015
    Visit the page New York Yankees
  • • How This MLB Offseason Will Impact the 2015-2016 Free-Agent Class
    2014
    See more James Shields

Nippon Professional Baseball schedule, game

  • • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    2025
    Continue with Shohei Ohtani
  • • Yuki Matsui proving to be a dependable bullpen piece
    2025
    See more Yuki Matsui
  • • Royals Rumblings - News for February 28, 2025
    2025
    Read about Spring Training
  • • Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
    2025
    Check it out Colorado Rockies
  • • MLB needs to copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off
    2025
    Visit the page World Series
  • • Brewers sign Elvin Rodríguez to major league deal, DFA J.B. Bukauskas
    2025
    See also Jorge Alfaro
  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    Click for news about Robert Suarez
  • • Brewers Grant Release To Jon Duplantier To Pursue NPB Opportunity
    The Brewers have granted right-hander Jon Duplantier his release so that he can pursue an opportunity with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, reports Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Duplantier, 30, inked a minor league deal with Milwaukee back in November and had been slated to compete for a job in spring training. It…...2024
    Click for news about Hanshin Tigers
  • • Rakuten Eagles Sign Spencer Howard, Miguel Yajure
    The Rakuten Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed right-handed pitchers Spencer Howard and Miguel Yajure, the team announced. Both pitchers will presumably join the Eagles starting rotation. The 2025 season will be Howard’s first in NPB and Yajure’s second. Howard, 28, was once a promising prospect in the Phillies organization but struggled to translate…...2024
    Click for news about Nippon Professional
  • • Tomoyuki Sugano Expected To Sign With MLB Team This Offseason
    Longtime Nippon Professional Baseball star Tomoyuki Sugano is planning to sign with an MLB team this offseason, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. After 12 years in NPB, Sugano more than meets the requirements (nine years of NPB service) to qualify for international free agency, so he will not be subject to the rules of the…...2024
    See more articles Tomoyuki Sugano

Nippon Professional Baseball rumors, scandals

  • • Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
    2025
    Click for news about Shohei Ohtani rumors
  • • Royals Rumblings - News for February 28, 2025
    2025
    Check it out Spring Training rumors
  • • NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero
    2023
  • • Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
    2023
    Click for news about Trevor Bauer
  • • Freddy Galvis Close To Deal With NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
    Infielder Freddy Galvis appears to be close to a move overseas, as reports from Yahoo Japan indicate that Galvis is nearing a contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. Should the move be finalized, it would count as a bit of a surprise.  While there hadn’t been much buzz about Galvis’ free…...2021
  • • Ichiro Suzuki to retire
    Ichiro Suzuki will announce his retirement following the completion of Thursday morning’s game between the Mariners and Athletics in Tokyo, Jim Allen of the Kyodo News reports (Twitter link). Ichiro has already informed the Mariners about his decision. The 45-year-old outfielder is in Thursday’s lineup, starting in right field in the 2,653rd game of his MLB career. The official announcement ends m...2019
  • • Shohei 7: Latest buzz on two-way star Ohtani
    As the Hot Stove heats up, all eyes are on Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani. His Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, posted him on Friday, and Ohtani has until Dec. 22 to sign with a Major League team....2017
    Click for news about Hot Stove gossip
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
  • • Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
    2015
    Read about Scott Miller buzz
  • • MLB International Signing Rules Must Be Altered with Improved US-Cuba Relations
    2014
    See also Bud Selig buzz

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