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Nippon Professional news, rumors
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• Gosuke Katoh Retires, Joins Blue Jays Front Office
After 10 years in affiliated ball and two seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, infielder Gosuke Katoh is trading in his playing equipment for a gig behind the scenes. Days after announcing his retirement, Katoh revealed on his Instagram account that he has taken a job in the Blue Jays front office. Katoh, 30,…...2024Read about Nippon Professional Baseball news
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• Roki Sasaki has officially been posted and will come to MLB in 2025Roki Sasaki pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic | Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images What are the Cubs’ chances? Just a couple of days ago, I wrote about star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki and that the Cubs should absolutely, positively go after him if his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, posted him. Today, the Marines made it official: They are ...2024Read about Roki Sasaki news -
• Young Pitcher to be Posted
The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball decided to post Roki Sasaki. He is already a star in Japan, and helped win the 2023 World Baseball Classic: Because he is younger than 25, Sasaki will be classified as an international amateur free agent subject to bonus pool limits, according to MLB rules. That means […]...2024Read about Lotte Marines news
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• NPB’s Hiroshima Carp Sign Elehuris Montero, Re-Sign Taylor Hearn
The Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed infielder Elehuris Montero and re-signed lefty Taylor Hearn, who excelled for the Carp in a relief role in 2024 (Japanese-language links via Yahoo Japan). Both players are CAA clients, and both are receiving one-year deals for the 2025 campaign. Montero, 26,…...2024Read about Hiroshima Carp news
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• Dodgers Rumors: Major Roki Sasaki Update as Free Agency BeginsThe Dodgers may add a third Japanese-born player to their roster in the offseason. In addition to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles may become the new home of right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki. Sasaki, 23, made his professional debut in 2021 in the Nippon Professional Baseball. He has pitched for the Chiba Lotte Marines …...2024Read about Shohei Ohtani news -
• Anderson Espinoza Re-Signs With NPB’s Orix Buffaloes
Right-hander Anderson Espinoza has re-signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball on a two-year deal worth roughly $6MM, according to a report from Swing Completo’s Victor Briceno (h/t to Yakyu Cosmopolitan). 2025 will be Espinoza’s second year with the Buffaloes in NPB. Espinoza, 26, made his pro debut with the Red Sox…...2024Read about Anderson Espinoza news
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Nippon Professional injury and suspension
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• Roki Sasaki to Dodgers? National MLB Writer Doesn’t Rule it OutWill the Los Angeles Dodgers sign Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher Roki Sasaki during the offseason? The Japanese pitcher is one of the most highly-sought after international prospects, and will likely be coveted by many teams, even though he has dealt with injuries this season. However, it’s unclear if the Chiba Lotte Marines will let Sasaki …...2024Read about Roki Sasaki injuries -
• Royals Rumblings - News for April 12, 2024Dang it - Ryan already used the picture I wanted to use | Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Sure, the Royals have a 7 game winning streak. But, more importantly, they’d have a 29 week unbeaten streak on Thursdays if they hadn’t lost Opening Day Yesterday was a day game (and what a game). That jumbles all the news up. Basically, we get a bunch of recaps, but I’m sur...2024Read about Mark DeRosa injuries -
• Thursday Rockpile: The Rockies should seize upon their last chance to sign an NPB pitcherColorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, January 11th, 2024 This afternoon will be the final deadline for Major League Baseball teams to sign talent that has entered the posting system from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball or South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organization. As the deadline draws ever nearer, most of the biggest names have been taken off the board. Many of them were signed by ...2024Read about Colorado Rockies injuries -
• 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…...2023Read about Chiba Lotte injuries
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• 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…...2023Read about Trevor Bauer injuries
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• 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 ...2022Read about Hot Stove injuries
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• 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…...2021Read about Daisuke Matsuzaka injuries
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• 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...2020Read about Nippon Professional Baseball injuries
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• 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...2018Read about Hisashi Iwakuma injuries
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• 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...2018Read about Koji Uehara injuries
Nippon Professional lifestyle
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• Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
2016Read about Oakland Athletics
Timeline
- 2024
"Veteran infielder Rougned Odor has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Hochi Sports." - 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 trade rumors, contract, salary rumors
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• Roki Sasaki has officially been posted and will come to MLB in 2025
2024Read about Roki Sasaki trade rumors
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• Young Pitcher to be Posted
2024Read about Lotte Marines trade rumors
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• Anderson Espinoza Re-Signs With NPB’s Orix Buffaloes
2024Read about Anderson Espinoza trade rumors
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• Franmil Reyes Re-Signs With NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
After a strong first season in Nippon Professional Baseball, Franmil Reyes is planning an encore, as the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced that the slugger has signed a new contract with the team for the 2025 season. Japanese media reports from last weekend suggested that Reyes was likely to stay with the Fighters and the club…...2024Read about Franmil Reyes trade rumors
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• Jeter Downs Signs With NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Catching up on some news that was set aside during the trade deadline frenzy, the Yankees announced yesterday that infielder Jeter Downs was released and signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Downs, 26, wasn’t a Yankee for very long. He was claimed off waivers from the Nationals in December, with…...2024Read about Jeter Downs trade rumors
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• Mike Ford Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Mike Ford has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the team has announced. Ford was designated for assignment by the Reds earlier this season. He elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to the minor leagues. Ford, 32, signed with the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in…...2024Read about Mike Ford trade rumors
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• The One-Year Anniversary Of Yusei Kikuchi’s (New) CurveballFew pitchers have had an up-and-down career in the majors like Yusei Kikuchi. The former Seibu Lions star made the jump from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball in the 2018-19 offseason when he signed a four-year, $56MM contract with the Mariners. That deal contained a series of complicated options that allowed the Mariners…...2024Read about Yusei Kikuchi trade rumors -
• Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto Says He’s Still Getting Used to Life in MLBIt’s been about four months since Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed his gigantic 12-year, $325 million contract that brought him to MLB and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior, Yamamoto had spent his entire professional baseball career in Nippon Professional Baseball, the highest level of baseball in Japan. Yamamoto is still getting adjusted to MLB after making the …...2024Read about Yoshinobu Yamamoto trade rumors -
• Royals Rumblings - News for April 12, 2024
2024Read about Mark DeRosa trade rumors
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• Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the BayPhoto 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...2024Read about Matt Chapman trade rumors
Nippon Professional stats and results
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• 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.…...2020Read about Nippon Professional Baseball stats
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• 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...2018Read about Koji Uehara stats
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• Japanese prospect brings back Hideo Nomo pitching motion
The spirit of Hideo Nomo lives on in Japanese prospect Suguru Takai.The 21-year-old Takai, a right-handed pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league, is going viral for a familiar pitching motion — one that is virtually a mirror image of Nomo’s. Nomo became famous for that corkscrew-esque delivery during his 12 seasons pitching in the MLB (most notably with the Los A...2017Read about Nippon Professional Baseball stats
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• Ichiro Suzuki's Contract Option Picked Up by Marlins: Latest Details, Reaction
2016Read about Ichiro Suzuki stats
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• MLB Team of the Week: Edwin Encarnacion, J.D. Martinez and Colby Lewis Star
2016Read about Edwin Encarnacion stats
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016Read about Ichiro Suzuki stats
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• 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
2016Read about Kris Bryant stats
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• Kenta Maeda Looking Like Huge Bargain Ready for Bright Lights of Los Angeles
2016Read about Kenta Maeda stats
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• Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
2016Read about Los Angeles Dodgers stats
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• How the LA Dodgers Can Still Build a 2016 Powerhouse After January 1
2015Read about Los Angeles Dodgers stats
Nippon Professional parents, kids, wife / husband, girlfriend / boyfriend
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• Royals Rumblings - News for April 12, 2024
2024Read about Mark DeRosa
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• BCB After Dark: Who will be the King of K?Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports The late-night/early-morning spot for Cubs fans asks who will lead the pitching staff in strikeouts Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Please come on in and sit with us. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverage. BCB After Dark is...2024Read about Matt Marton -
• Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the Bay
2024Read about Matt Chapman
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• 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…...2021Read about Justin Smoak
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016Read about Ichiro Suzuki
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• 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
2016Read about Kris Bryant
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• Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
2016Read about Oakland Athletics
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• Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
2016Read about Los Angeles Dodgers
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• How the LA Dodgers Can Still Build a 2016 Powerhouse After January 1
2015Read about Los Angeles Dodgers
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• Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
2015Read about Scott Miller
Top Nippon Professional news
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• Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits first career grand slam in two-homer game vs. Rays
2022Read about Shohei Ohtani
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• Kuroda reportedly returning to Japan to pitch
2014Read about Hiroki Kuroda
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• Source: Deal reached; Ohtani can be posted
2017Read about Nippon Professional Baseball
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• History suggests Maeda will be a good value
2016Read about Red Sox
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• History suggests Maeda will be a good value
2016Read about Red Sox
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• Sources: Bauer finalizing deal to play in Japan2023Read about Trevor Bauer -
• Has Nathan Eovaldi Surpassed Masahiro Tanaka as Yankees' True Ace?
2015Read about Masahiro Tanaka
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• Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2023Read about Trevor Bauer
Baseball Fame Ranking
- 1. White Sox
- 2. World Series
- 3. Red Sox
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Nippon Professional fantasy rankings and news
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• 2015 Yankees Could Be Perfect Fit for 6-Man Rotation Experiment
2015Read about New York Yankees
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• How This MLB Offseason Will Impact the 2015-2016 Free-Agent Class
2014Read about James Shields
Nippon Professional schedule, game
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• Dave Roberts Believes Dodgers’ Elevated Brand in Japan Could Lure Roki Sasaki to LAIf Nippon Professional Baseball star Roki Sasaki leaves Japan for Major League Baseball this offseason, would he sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers? Sasaki, who helped Team Japan win gold at the World Baseball Classic in 2023, is one of the most sought after international prospects. The right-hander has drawn the attention of MLB thanks …...2024Read about Dave Roberts -
• Longtime NPB star expected to sign with MLB team this offseasonLongtime Nippon Professional Baseball star Tomoyuki Sugano is planning to sign with an MLB team this offseason....2024Read about Nippon Professional Baseball -
• 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…...2024Read about Tomoyuki Sugano
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• Royals Rumblings - News for April 12, 2024
2024Read about Mark DeRosa
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• Colorado Rockies game no. 5 thread: Dakota Hudson vs. Shota ImanagaAllan Henry-USA TODAY Sports The Rockies finally get out of the Desert and head to the Windy City! Spring training has wrapped up and so has the Colorado Rockies’ opening series. In the first four games of the season, the Rockies were outscored 32-14 — the worst four-game run differential (-18) to start a season in franchise history — and their 14 runs scored are tied for the third-fewest ...2024Read about Colorado Rockies -
• BCB After Dark: Who will be the King of K?
2024Read about Matt Marton
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• Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the Bay
2024Read about Matt Chapman
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• Thursday Rockpile: The Rockies should seize upon their last chance to sign an NPB pitcher
2024Read about Colorado Rockies
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• Sorting Through The Athletics’ Rotation Options
The A’s formally announced newly signed right-hander Shintaro Fujinami at a press conference last week, where general manager David Forst confirmed that Fujinami is indeed viewed as a starting pitcher. That’s the role he’s held in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for the bulk of his career, so perhaps it’s not a surprise, but Fujinami is…...2023Read about Shintaro Fujinami
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• Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball to start 2020 season on June 19 without fans, play shortened schedule
Nippon Professional Baseball will be the third professional baseball league to start its 2020 season...2020Read about Nippon Professional Baseball
Nippon Professional rumors, scandals
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• NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero
2023Read about Chiba Lotte rumors
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• Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2023Read about Trevor Bauer rumors
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• 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…...2021Read about Freddy Galvis rumors
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• 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...2019Read about Ichiro Suzuki rumors
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• 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....2017Read about Hot Stove rumors
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016Read about Ichiro Suzuki rumors
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• Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
2015Read about Scott Miller rumors
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• MLB International Signing Rules Must Be Altered with Improved US-Cuba Relations
2014Read about Bud Selig rumors
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• How This MLB Offseason Will Impact the 2015-2016 Free-Agent Class
2014Read about James Shields rumors
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• Japanese Star Kenta Maeda's Scouting Report, Top Potential Suitors
2014Read about Kenta Maeda rumors
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