Orix Acquisitions: Figaro, Hessman, Terahara
Orix’s hot stove is heating up. Sponichi reports that the to-be-rebranded Buffaloes have begun negotiating with Detroit pitcher Alfredo Figaro. Figaro seems like he would be a good pick-up for Kansai’s second team, as Marc Hulet of FanGraphs graded him as Detroit’s ninth-best prospect going into the 2010 season, saying that “got more than enough to offer in the back end of the rotation as a fourth starter.” Back in 2009, Harry Pavilidis of the Hardball Times pointed out that he had the second best whiff-rate among that seasons rookie pitchers.
The same Sponichi report also says that Orix is near an agreement with Mike Hessman.
The bigger news is that Orix has agreed to a multi-player trade that would send lefty starter Shogo Yamamoto to Yokohama in return for pitcher Hayato Terahara. We’ll have to wait and see who the other players involved are, but based on what’s been announced so far, this is a big win for Orix. Terahara is injury-prone but has been the most talented pitcher on Yokohama’s staff over the last few seasons. The BayStars made an inspired move to get him from Softbank a few years ago, so it comes as surprise they’d move him along for a guy like Yamamoto. Let’s hope there’s more to this trade than meets the eye.
05/12/2010 at 1:04 pm Permalink
Terahara, man that is a good steal. He’s been good once he got out of Softbank, it look he wither way to nothing there. Orix really got themselves a steal there. Hessman has the chance to be another Rhodes, I understand he will never be Rhodes but I think he can and has the ability to put up his numbers, he will be 33 next year and his MLB career is stuck in cups of coffee, Asia looks like his future, if he hits for power and performs he could stay around a while. From what you say fo Figaro, this is a type of signing I like too, a former Detroit prospect and has put up real good numbers in the minors as a starter, I will pay attention to him.
BTW, I love the film Nishioka’s Beverly Hill Council put out:
05/12/2010 at 1:26 pm Permalink
Well Here is Beverly Hills Councils video of him.
05/12/2010 at 2:59 pm Permalink
Triple-A Buffalo slugger Mike Hessman reportedly signing with Orix in Japan.
http://twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/status/11474822567563264
10/12/2010 at 4:56 am Permalink
I was quite surprised with Orix when they offered Lee (the one from Yomiuri) a lot bigger contract than anyone could have predicted….
It seems that Orix is going after Korean NPB fans… especially those many residing in Osaka…
But of course, the chances that this will prove to be a good cantract are….well, slim.