Post-Quake Roster Changes
A couple of roster changes have taken place in the wake of last month’s earthquake. Here they are.
- Brian Bannister left Japan in the wake of the earthquake, but hasn’t returned and has subsequently been placed on the restricted list by Yomiuri. Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times has the details. Bannister had been competing with a number of foreign pitchers for a roster spot, and I don’t expect him to be replaced immediately, if at all.
- Rakuten has granted Juan Morillo his release, which he reportedly requested due to shock of the earthquake. Rakuten picked up Romulo Sanchez from the Yankees a couple weeks ago, so I guess they saw this coming.
- I posted last weekend that Yokohama lefty Brent Leach has so far elected not to return to Japan, and has been placed on the restricted list. To take his place, the BayStars are going to bring Stephen Randolph in for a workout in the next couple days.
15/04/2011 at 4:08 am Permalink
Poor Banny. He’s completely fallen from grace, a nice guy who’s good with the media, to this loser.
That’s what Japan make most “foreigners.” I’m glad Rami and Murton are still contributing.
17/04/2011 at 5:49 pm Permalink
I don’t know about “completely”. Tuffy Rhodes had kind of a big blow out with Yomiuri and managed to come back from it. I kind of wonder if Banny’s spot on the depth chart had something to do with this. He was basically given one or two spring starts (I can only really remember one long one) to win a spot. But yeah, I like Banny too. He kind of won me over a few years ago when he did that q&a with MLBTR. I doubt this is the end for Banny. I certainly hope not.
17/04/2011 at 11:23 pm Permalink
Rumors have it that the Doosan Bears of KBO are looking into Banny as a candidate to fill in their open foreign player slot. But of course, just a rumor and even if true, Banny would still be just one among many candidates.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out with Banny and Yomiuri. He’s a nice guy, so I too hope to see things work out for him.
18/04/2011 at 4:42 am Permalink
Yeah, I hope he can work that out, too. On a side note, Moriyo of Rakuten left Japan without further notice, but recently handed in his request of dismissal (to cancel the contract).
I think most foreign players never experienced earthquake. Unfortunately, their first “know” of what a quake can do is through this devastating one from Tohoku.
It must scared the hell out of them.
18/04/2011 at 11:19 am Permalink
Actually that side note about Morillo is my second bullet point of this post.