NPB Tracker

The SoftBank Hawks have picked up Korean slugger Lee Beom-Ho on a two-year, 300m yen deal. Sadaharu Oh had talked about wanted to pick up another import slugger, and he found one who’s hit at least 20 KBO home runs in five of the last six years. Lee will give the Hawks another option at DH and the infield corners.

And I didn’t have time to post this when it happened, so I’ll defer to Yakyu Baka’s coverage, but the Nippon Ham Fighter’s signed Buddy Carlyle to fill most likely a bullpen spot.

Buddy and Lee were both on my list of import candidates for 2010, so I’m glad I got at least two right. NPB’s interest in Lee was well publicized though, so that wasn’t exactly a tough one.