Hanshin’s Import 2009 Roster
Update: Sanspo is reporting that Hanshin also has Rays OF/DH Jonny Gomes on their list, as well Nippon Ham starter Ryan Glynn.
Daily Sports reports the Hanshin Tigers have added a few more names to their offseason shopping list. We already knew about Nelson Cruz, and now the Tigers are looking at Kevin Mench and Jose Bautista, both of whom finished last year with Toronto.
Hanshin is also looking at a couple of foreign players who are already in Japan: Rakuten’s Jose Fernandez, Seibu’s Hiram Bocachica, and Michael Restovich, who was just released by Softbank. Fernandez is the most accomplished hitter of the three, smacking 159 HR with a .293 avg over his six years in Japan, though he is suspect with the glove. Bocachica hit well when he was in the lineup, with 20 HR in 78 games, and he’s always been sound with the glove. Restovich… he’s coming off a bad year and would be a reclaimation project at this point.
05/11/2008 at 9:47 am Permalink
Cruz be a nice pickup for a NPB team. I could easily see him smack 35 HRs and batting near .300, but like I said before I find it hard that Texas will give up on him after a big end to the season.
and now the Tigers are looking at Kevin Mench and Jose Bautista
Mench be a nice player to see how he projects in Japan, I’m afraid I dont care too much for Bautista, he’s strikes out way too much to make his slightest power if you want to call it that. I dont think he’s much of an upgrade from Ford.
Hanshin is also looking at a couple of foreign players who are already in Japan: Rakuten’s Jose Fernandez, Seibu’s Hiram Bocachica, and Michael Restovich, who was just released by Softbank.
This is always the route I thought Hanshin should took to go after foreign players who have already proven that they can rake in NPB. It seems that their new foreign imports always fail miserably. Spencer and Ford are two names that come to mind. A example of proven foreign players I can think of is Andy Sheets.
06/11/2008 at 1:20 am Permalink
Maybe the best example of a guy that did well in Japan before joining Hanshin is George Arias. He did very well as a Tiger.
06/11/2008 at 1:22 am Permalink
Hanshin wants Glynn? I cannot imagine why. I am no Hanshin fan and I could care less if they pick up some awful pitcher, but, honestly, I would rather see Glynn banished to the North Korean Baseball League or something. After his performance in against Seibu, I doubt anyone here in Hokkaido ever wants to see his face again.
06/11/2008 at 1:23 am Permalink
Oh, and Hanshin executives, please take Nashida, too, while your at it.
06/11/2008 at 12:51 pm Permalink
Maybe the best example of a guy that did well in Japan before joining Hanshin is George Arias. He did very well as a Tiger.
Yeah, I can’t believe I forgot all about Arias. Though I think Hanshin should go the experience route as it seems like most of the time their foreign imports just don’t work out, either I guess from poor scouting and a combination of poor adaption. Though the experience front doesn’t guarantee success, at least these players know the in and outs of the league.