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Nippon Professional news, rumors
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• Astros To Sign Miguel Yajure To Minor League Deal
The Astros are adding right-hander Miguel Yajure on a minor league agreement, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The 27-year-old has spent the past two seasons pitching in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He last appeared in the big leagues with the Pirates in 2022. Yajure’s stateside return comes after he posted a 3.72 ERA across […]...2026See more Chandler Rome news today
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• Hiromi Itoh, Teruaki Sato Expected To Be Posted For MLB Teams Next Winter
MLB teams believe Nippon Professional Baseball stars Hiromi Itoh and Teruaki Sato will both be posted into next offseason’s free agent market, according to ESPN.com’s Jorge Castillo. Itoh is a right-handed pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, while Sato is a slugging third baseman/outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers. Both are members of Japan’s World Baseball […]...2026
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• Changes, Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays added the following players to their 2026 major league roster: Kazuma Okamoto, 3B Dylan Cease, SP Cody Ponce, SP Tyler Rogers, RP The AL Champions stood pat for the most part. Okamoto represents a nice addition, however. The slugger slashed .277/.361/.521 in eleven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. He did that […]...2026See more Toronto Blue Jays rumors
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• The Opener: Imai, Kolek, Scherzer
Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day: 1. Imai to make stateside debut: New Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai has pitched his entire career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, but he’ll make his first career MLB Spring Training appearance later today. Imai is the […]...2026See also Tatsuya Imai breaking news today
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• Tomoyuki Sugano Intends To Stay In MLB
Free agent Tomoyuki Sugano is not planning to return to Nippon Professional Baseball, per a report from Yahoo Japan (hat tip here for the translation). The report cited a recent television interview from Sugano in which he said he’s “not considering” coming back to NPB. He has connected with multiple teams and is “waiting for…...2026See more Tomoyuki Sugano breaking news
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• NPB’s Orix Buffaloes Sign Sean Hjelle
The Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed former Giants right-hander Sean Hjelle. He had elected minor league free agency at the beginning of the offseason. Hjelle was a second-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2018. It’s fitting that he landed with San Francisco, as the 6’11”…...2026Check it out Orix Buffaloes rumors
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Nippon Professional injury and suspension
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• Jon Duplantier Signs With NPB’s Yokohama BayStars
The Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced the signing of right-hander Jon Duplantier. The 31-year-old will remain in Japan for a second season after spending the ’25 campaign with the Hanshin Tigers. A former highly-regarded prospect with the Diamondbacks, Duplantier was set back by injuries. He wound up making just 19 appearances between…...2026Continue with Nippon Professional Baseball injury update
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• Padres minor league update week #8Matt Waldron and Bryan Hoeing continue rehab The Padres have two pitchers working on coming back from injuries suffered during spring training. Both starter Matt Waldron and reliever Bryan Hoeing are working toward completing their rehabilitation from those injuries. Waldron started his second game, this time with San Antonio, and completed 2 IP with 1 ER, 2 K and 2 BB. Hoeing also pitched for Dou...2025Visit the page Matt Waldron injury update -
• Padres release Oscar GonzalezOscar Gonzalez | Photo by Elsa/Getty Images Will sign with Nippon Baseball The San Diego Padres have given outfielder Oscar Gonzalez his unconditional release to allow him to pursue a job in Japan with the Nippon Professional Baseball organization, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. After trading Connor Joe last week, the Padres are parting with another left-field option. They placed Oscar ...2025Continue with Oscar Gonzalez injury -
• Royals Rumblings - News for April 4, 2025Currently, does Jonathan India have the best mane on the team? | Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Time to get back to winning At The Star, Jaylon Thompson collected quotes from around the league concerning how teams feel about the Royals: “I think they understood the work that it took,” Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said. “They are not going to let up on that side, with the ...2025Check it out Jonathan India -
• Monday Rockpile: Where are these former members of the 2024 Rockies?Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, February 17th, 2025 The Colorado Rockies are reporting to their spring training home in Scottsdale, Arizona with a full 40-man roster an 23 non-roster invitees. These 63 players all have the same goal: to prepare for the upcoming 2025 baseball season and to hopefully be one of the 26 men named to the Rockies’ Opening Day ...2025See more Colorado Rockies injury status -
• Brewers sign Elvin Rodríguez to major league deal, DFA J.B. BukauskasJonathan 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...2025See more articles Elvin Rodríguez 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…...2023See more Chiba Lotte
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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…...2023Visit the page Trevor Bauer injury update
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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 ...2022See more Hot Stove injury update
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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…...2021Visit the page Daisuke Matsuzaka availability report
Nippon Professional lifestyle
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• Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
2016Check it out Oakland Athletics
Timeline
- 2026
"MLB teams believe Nippon Professional Baseball stars Hiromi Itoh and Teruaki Sato will both be posted into next offseason’s free agent market, according to ESPN." - 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 trade rumors, contract, salary rumors
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• Hiromi Itoh, Teruaki Sato Expected To Be Posted For MLB Teams Next Winter
2026See also Nippon Professional Baseball salary
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• José Ureña Signs With NPB’s Rakuten Eagles
The Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed veteran right-hander José Ureña to a one-year contract for the 2026 season. It’ll be the first stint overseas for the Premier Talent Sports client, who’s previously pitched for 11 major league clubs — including a whopping five teams in 2025…...2026
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• Takahiro Norimoto Weighing Offer From MLB Team
Free agent relief pitcher Takahiro Norimoto has received an offer from a major league club, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The 35-year-old righty is weighing a move stateside but not firmly committed to making the jump. He’s also considering offers from clubs in Japan. Norimoto has played 13 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, all with the…...2026See more Mark Feinsand contract rumors
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• Kona Takahashi Could Return To NPB
Right-hander Tatsuya Imai found an MLB home earlier today, signing a three-year deal with the Astros. The same can’t be said for Imai’s former Seibu Lions teammate, Kona Takahashi, whose posting window closes on Sunday. With just one major league offer on the table, Takahashi could be headed back to Nippon Professional Baseball, reports Mark…...2026See also Tatsuya Imai salary
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• Colorado Rockies game no. 105 thread: Austin Gomber vs. Tomoyuki SuganoPhoto by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images The Rockies will look to rebound from last night and win their third-straight series Last night’s game was... forgettable at best (but historic at worst). In case you missed it, the Colorado Rockies were obliterated 18-0 by the Baltimore Orioles. And the worst part was that it was the second-worst shutout in franchise history. The worst came at the hand...2025Click for news about Colorado Rockies trade rumors -
• Grant Hartwig Signs With NPB’s Hanshin Tigers
Reliever Grant Hartwig has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The 6’5″ righty had been on a minor league contract with the Mets but was released last month. It seems that was to pursue this opportunity. Hartwig, 27, pitched in the big leagues for the Mets in each of the previous…...2025Visit the page Hanshin Tigers contract
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• Marek Chlup Debuts With Yomiuri Giants
Great news for Czech baseball fans as Marek Chlup has been added to the NPB roster of the Yomiuri Giants. A first in Japanese baseball. In September, 2024, Marek Chlup signed a so-called developmental contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yomiuri Giants. It was the first for Japanese baseball that a player from the Czech Republic......2025Click for news about Nippon Professional Baseball salary rumors
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• NPB’s Rakuten Eagles Sign Luke Voit
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed Luke Voit to a contract for the remainder of the 2025 season. News of the signing first emerged a couple of weeks ago, and Voit just this weekend arrived in Japan once terms were finalized. Voit is best known for his torrid stretch of…...2025Visit the page Luke Voit contract rumors
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• Padres minor league update week #8
2025See more articles Matt Waldron
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• Padres release Oscar Gonzalez
2025See more Oscar Gonzalez salary rumors
Nippon Professional stats and results
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• Royals Rumblings - News for April 4, 2025
2025Read about Jonathan India stats
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• Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei OhtaniAl 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...2025Check it out Shohei Ohtani statistics -
• 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...2025See also Colorado Rockies statistics -
• 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.…...2020Click for news 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...2018Click for news about Koji Uehara stats
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• Ichiro Suzuki's Contract Option Picked Up by Marlins: Latest Details, Reaction
2016Read about Ichiro Suzuki statistics
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• MLB Team of the Week: Edwin Encarnacion, J.D. Martinez and Colby Lewis Star
2016See also Edwin Encarnacion statistics
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016Continue with Ichiro Suzuki stats
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• 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
2016Continue with Kris Bryant
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• Kenta Maeda Looking Like Huge Bargain Ready for Bright Lights of Los Angeles
2016Check it out Kenta Maeda scores
Nippon Professional parents, kids, wife / husband, girlfriend / boyfriend
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• Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
2025Visit the page Colorado Rockies
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• Monday Rockpile: Where are these former members of the 2024 Rockies?
2025Check it out Colorado Rockies
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• 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...2024Visit the page Roki Sasaki -
• 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...2024Continue with 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…...2021See also Justin Smoak
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016See more Ichiro Suzuki
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• 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
2016Visit the page Kris Bryant
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• Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
2016Visit the page Oakland Athletics
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• Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
2016See more 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
Top Nippon Professional news
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• Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits first career grand slam in two-homer game vs. Rays
2022Check it out Shohei Ohtani
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• Kuroda reportedly returning to Japan to pitch
2014Check it out Hiroki Kuroda
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• Source: Deal reached; Ohtani can be posted
2017Click for news about Nippon Professional Baseball
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• History suggests Maeda will be a good value
2016Continue with Red Sox
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• History suggests Maeda will be a good value
2016Continue with Red Sox
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• Sources: Bauer finalizing deal to play in Japan2023Continue with Trevor Bauer -
• Has Nathan Eovaldi Surpassed Masahiro Tanaka as Yankees' True Ace?
2015Check it out Masahiro Tanaka
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• Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2023Read about Trevor Bauer
Baseball Fame Ranking
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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
2015Visit the page New York Yankees
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• How This MLB Offseason Will Impact the 2015-2016 Free-Agent Class
2014Check it out James Shields
Nippon Professional schedule, game
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• Hiromi Itoh, Teruaki Sato Expected To Be Posted For MLB Teams Next Winter
2026Check it out Nippon Professional Baseball
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• Do Dodgers Still View Roki Sasaki as Starting Pitcher Moving Forward?The Los Angeles Dodgers had abysmal production from their relievers going into the postseason, but a long lost starting pitcher emerged as the savior of the bullpen. Rookie phenom Roki Sasaki had eight starts in a Dodgers uniform that were far from what was promised after four illustrious seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Sasaki took […]...2025Click for news about Roki Sasaki -
• Colorado Rockies game no. 105 thread: Austin Gomber vs. Tomoyuki Sugano
2025See more Colorado Rockies
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• Padres minor league update week #8
2025See more Matt Waldron
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• Royals Rumblings - News for April 4, 2025
2025See more Jonathan India
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• Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
2025See more articles Shohei Ohtani
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• Yuki Matsui proving to be a dependable bullpen pieceYuki 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...2025See also Yuki Matsui -
• Thursday Rockpile: Are the Rockies bringing emotion back to Coors?
2025Visit the page Colorado Rockies
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• MLB needs to copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-OffKirby 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...2025Click for news about World Series -
• Monday Rockpile: Where are these former members of the 2024 Rockies?
2025See more articles Colorado Rockies
Nippon Professional rumors, scandals
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• Royals Rumblings - News for April 4, 2025
2025Visit the page Jonathan India gossip
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• Further thoughts on the MLB Tokyo Series, the Cubs, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani
2025Check it out Shohei Ohtani whispers
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• NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero
2023Visit the page Chiba Lotte scandal
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• Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2023Check it out Trevor Bauer whispers
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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…...2021Check it out Freddy Galvis whispers
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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...2019Check it out Ichiro Suzuki gossip
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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 scandal
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• How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
2016See more Ichiro Suzuki gossip
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• Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
2015See also Scott Miller whispers
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• MLB International Signing Rules Must Be Altered with Improved US-Cuba Relations
2014Visit the page Bud Selig gossip
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