Orix Working on Hessman

» 01 December 2010 » In mlb prospects, npb »

If you search this site, you’ll get posts dating as far back as two years ago of me saying that NPB teams should consider Mike Hessman. It looks like that’s happening now, as Daily Sports is reporting Orix has him on their list of replacements for the apparently departing Alex Cabrera. Orix is also close to signing ex-Yomiuri Giant Seung-Yeop Lee, surprisingly for a reported 150m yen. Even with Lee, I think Hessman would be a good addition for Orix. He would give them some pop from the right side of the plate, and offers some depth at third should Aarom Baldiris falter.

Hessman is coming off a good season with 3A Buffalo, one that saw him significantly cut down on his strikeout rate and get called up to Mets in the second half of the season. Unfortunately, he hit a meager .132 at the MLB level, and at 32 looks like a textbook 4A player. Japan is a good option for him.

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  1. Patrick
    Michael
    02/12/2010 at 2:33 am Permalink

    Who on the list their looking at???

  2. Patrick
    Patrick Wilson
    02/12/2010 at 7:36 am Permalink

    Hi!

    What about Cabrera? Do you think he will sign with the Hawks? I guess Jose Ortiz is hurt for a while? Any other team linked with Cabrera?

    Thanks

  3. Patrick
    Patrick
    02/12/2010 at 8:19 am Permalink

    Cabu has been linked to Softbank, although they just signed Uchikawa some I’m not sure where he fits in. I having seen any other teams linked with Cabu, but Seibu would be a fit if they don’t retain one of Dee Brown or Jose Fernandez.

    I think Ortiz is staying with Softbank. He slumped down the stretch but overall had a good year.

  4. Patrick
    Chris Jackson
    02/12/2010 at 12:59 pm Permalink

    Hear anything about John Lindsey going to Japan? I read on the Softbank blog over at japanesebaseball.com that the Hawks were interested in acquiring him from the Dodgers (this was written before the Uchikawa signing, I believe). I’m guessing that broken hand he suffered in September might be detrimental since he can’t show off his power right now.

  5. Patrick
    Patrick
    03/12/2010 at 5:24 pm Permalink

    Outside of that early interest Softbank had in Lindsay, I haven’t hear of anything on Softbank or any interest from other teams in a while though.