Pitcher Signings: MacLane, Barnette, Houlton
First post of the new year is about… more pitchers signing with NPB teams.
- The Orix Buffaloes are set to acquire Cardinals lefty Evan MacLane, citing a need for a lefthanded rotation candidate. An official announcement is due early in the year. I noted the Buffaloes’ lack of lefty options when I looked at their group of starters last week. MacLane was on my list of foreign player candidates last year, on a tip from a Cardinals blogger.
- Yakult is working on bringing back Tony Barnette, who they had released earlier in the offseason following a rough year in Yoyogi.
- This last item is a little on the old side, but Softbank is bringing back DJ Houlton, who like Barnette was released after a difficult season. Houlton is taking a 50% pay cut to 50 million yen (about $600k).
03/01/2011 at 6:36 pm Permalink
Igarashi was just DFA by the Mets, I guess he plays AAA in 2011 or maybe back to Swallows…
04/01/2011 at 12:22 am Permalink
Does Igarashi have to go back to the Swallows if he makes an NPB return? And, Evan MacLane seems like a pretty good pickup for Orix. I’ve seen him pitch in both St. Louis and Memphis. Should be a good bottom of the rotation innings eater.
04/01/2011 at 12:38 am Permalink
No, Igarashi wouldn’t have to go back to Yakult, but I wonder if they’d be entitled to free agent compensation if he winds up with another NPB team. Komiyama got stuck in no-man’s land because of that a few years ago. But anyway, if he only got designated today the Mets have 10 days to trade, release or outright him. We’ll have to see which direction they go in.
04/01/2011 at 2:27 am Permalink
Are their any more players out their being target by any teams in japan???
04/01/2011 at 5:08 pm Permalink
According to this, Igarashi is expected to remain with the Mets as a minor leaguer: http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/mlb/news/20110104-OHT1T00167.htm