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Nippon Professional news, rumors

  • • Poll: Where Will Roki Sasaki Sign?
    The 2025 international amateur signing period begins tomorrow. While that milestone is a bit of a footnote for many fans in the offseason calendar, this year is different thanks to the presence of 23-year-old phenom Roki Sasaki. Sasaki was posted for major league clubs by Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines just after the Winter…...2025
  • 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
    See more articles Robert Suarez news and rumors
  • • 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
    Click for news about Orix Buffaloes news today
  • • Tyler Nevin To Sign With NPB’S Seibu Lions
    Infielder/outfielder Tyler Nevin is heading overseas to sign with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, per multiple reports out of Japan. Salary figures have not been publicly reported. Players that head to foreign leagues often have strong numbers in the minors but less so in the majors, a category that Nevin certainly falls…...2025
  • Former GM Predicts Roki Sasaki Doesn’t Join Dodgers, Instead Joins Major Rival
    • Former GM Predicts Roki Sasaki Doesn’t Join Dodgers, Instead Joins Major Rival
    The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are heating up. It is no question that the 23-year-old right handed phenom is going to make a major splash for a lucky MLB team this season as he departs from Nippon Professional Baseball. Sasaki has the numbers to prove he is planning on making a lasting impact with 129 strikeouts …...2025

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Nippon Professional injury and suspension

  • • 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
    Click for news about Trevor Bauer injury
  • • 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
    Read about 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
    Click for news about Daisuke Matsuzaka
  • • 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
    See more articles Hisashi Iwakuma injury
  • • 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
  • • Nate Schierholtz Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
    2016
    Click for news about Craig Calcaterra injuries
  • • Nate Schierholtz Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
    2016
  • • Yulieski Gourriel to Astros: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction
    2016

Nippon Professional lifestyle

  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    See more articles Robert Suarez
  • • Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
    2016

Timeline

  • 2025
    "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."

  • 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

  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
  • • NPB’s Orix Buffaloes Close To Signing Edward Olivares
    2025
    See more Orix Buffaloes
  • • NPB’s Orix Buffaloes Sign Jordan Diaz
    2025
    Visit the page Orix Buffaloes contract
  • • 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
  • • 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
    Visit the page Naoyuki Uwasawa contract
  • 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
  • • Peter Lambert To Sign With NPB’s Yakult Swallows
    Right-hander Peter Lambert is poised to sign with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball on a one-year deal, according to a report from Nikkan Sports (Japanese language link). The report suggests that Lambert would earn a $1.6MM salary in 2025 if the deal is completed. Lambert, 28 in April, was a second-round pick by…...2024
  • • Kyle Keller Re-Signs With NPB’s Yomiuri Giants
    Right-hander Kyle Keller has re-signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, MLBTR has learned. Keller’s new contract is a one-year deal that includes a mutual option for the 2026 season, though specific financial terms remain unclear. Keller, 31, was an 18th-round pick by Miami back in 2015 and made his big league debut…...2024
  • • Tayron Guerrero Signs With NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines
    The Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced that they have signed right-hander Tayron Guerrero. Per reporter Francys Romero (X link), Guerrero will make a salary of $600K next year. It’s a bit of a homecoming for Guerrero, 34 in January, as he also pitched for the Marines in 2022. He was in…...2024
    Continue with Chiba Lotte
  • • Sandro Fabian Reportedly Agrees To Three-Year Deal With NPB’s Hiroshima Toyo Carp
    Outfielder Sandro Fabian has reportedly agreed to join the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, per details from Francys Romero and Mike Rodriguez (X links). It’s a three-year pact worth $5.8MM, plus $600K of incentives. Fabian was on the 40-man roster of the Texas Rangers, who have apparently received some release fee from…...2024

Nippon Professional stats and results

  • • 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
    Continue with Koji Uehara
  • • 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...2017
  • • 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
    Visit the page Edwin Encarnacion
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
    Continue with Ichiro Suzuki stats
  • • 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
    2016
    Continue with Kris Bryant
  • • Kenta Maeda Looking Like Huge Bargain Ready for Bright Lights of Los Angeles
    2016
    See more articles Kenta Maeda statistics
  • • Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
    2016
  • • How the LA Dodgers Can Still Build a 2016 Powerhouse After January 1
    2015

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

  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    Read about Robert Suarez
  • • Tuesday Rockpile: Do the Rockies have a shot at signing Roki Sasaki?
    2024
    Continue with 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 articles 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
    Check it out Justin Smoak
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
    Continue with Ichiro Suzuki
  • • 2016 MLB Rookies Already Going Toe-to-Toe with Historic 2015 Class
    2016
    See also Kris Bryant
  • • Asian and American Ballplayers Face Unusual Challenges When Living Abroad
    2016
    See more articles Oakland Athletics
  • • Is Dodgers' Revamped Rotation Good Enough to Compete for 2016 Title?
    2016
    Continue with Los Angeles Dodgers
  • • How the LA Dodgers Can Still Build a 2016 Powerhouse After January 1
    2015
    See more articles Los Angeles Dodgers
  • • Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
    2015
    Continue with Scott Miller

Top Nippon Professional news

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

Baseball Fame Ranking

  • 1. White Sox

  • 2. World Series

  • 3. Red Sox

  • . . .

  • 663. Nippon Professional

Nippon Professional 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
    Read about James Shields

Nippon Professional schedule, game

  • • BCB After Dark: Would Robert Suarez be a good fit?
    2025
    Read 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
    Visit the page 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
  • • 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
  • • Outside The Confines: Matt Chapman goes back to the Bay
    2024
    See more articles Matt Chapman
  • • 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…...2023
    Read about Shintaro Fujinami
  • • 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...2020
  • • Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Sets June 19 Opening Day
    Baseball is set to return in Japan. As Kaz Nagatsuka of the Japan Times reports, Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Atsushi Saito announced Monday that the league plans to kick off its regular season on June 19 — nearly three months after the originally scheduled March 20 date. As has been the case in Taiwan and…...2020
    Click for news about Nippon Professional Baseball
  • • Baseball leagues in Korea, Japan face ongoing coronavirus challenges
    With COVID-19 raging in the United States, it’s hard not to glance longingly across the Pacific. In Korea and Japan, authorities have seemingly gained control over the spread of the virus — so much so that their highly respected baseball leagues are working toward a resumption of play. That’s not to say the effort is without challenges. Ramping up economic activity while holding back the tide of d...2020
    Click for news about Korea Baseball Organization
  • • MLB not planning to delay start of season amid Coronavirus concerns
    Major League Baseball decided Monday to close clubhouses to media members for an undisclosed period of time because of the coronavirus outbreak. Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball took the more drastic measure to postpone the start of its regular season. The Korea Baseball Organization is now following the NPB’s lead, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.Net reports. The league, which had already canceled preseas...2020

Nippon Professional rumors, scandals

  • • NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero
    2023
    Visit the page Chiba Lotte gossip
  • • Trevor Bauer To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
    2023
  • • 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
    Continue with Freddy Galvis rumors
  • • 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
    Read about Ichiro Suzuki
  • • 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
    Visit the page Hot Stove
  • • How Should We View Ichiro Suzuki's 4,257 All-Time Professional Hits?
    2016
    See more Ichiro Suzuki
  • • Scott Miller's Starting 9: Cubs Window Opening Right Before Our Eyes
    2015
    Visit the page Scott Miller whispers
  • • MLB International Signing Rules Must Be Altered with Improved US-Cuba Relations
    2014
    Read about Bud Selig gossip
  • • How This MLB Offseason Will Impact the 2015-2016 Free-Agent Class
    2014
    Check it out James Shields
  • • Japanese Star Kenta Maeda's Scouting Report, Top Potential Suitors
    2014
    See more Kenta Maeda buzz

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