NPB Tracker

It’s not Dallas McPherson, but SoftBank has acquired a bat. The Hawks have signed former Chiba Lotte Marine and Orix Blue Wave Jose Ortiz to a one year, $500k deal. Ortiz had been tearing up the Mexican League (.412, 7 hr in 68 ab), and has a track record of solid play in NPB, so this looks like a good move by the Hawks.

Ortiz will be available for game duty from the 28th.

This is getting obvious — SoftBank has now come out and said publicly that they’re looking to add a foreign bat, and targetting third baseman who have recently been dropped from MLB 40-man rosters. Starting third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda suffered an injury on opening day, increasing the urgency to add a bat. You all know who my choice would be. The other guy I could see getting a shot is Mike Hessman.

The SoftBank Hawks have been looking to import a power hitter for quite some time now, and the guy that should be at the top of their list is freely available. Dallas McPherson was released by the Marlins on April 1 after clearing waivers and failing to attract a trade partner. Takeuchi-COO, if you’re reading this, sign McPherson and pencil him in at 3rd base.

So we know at this point that SoftBank is looking to import a bat toward the end of spring training. Takeuchi-COO, if you’re your listening, here are a few options:

• Dallas McPherson, 3B, Florida Marlins — hit 42 bombs in AAA last year.
• Andy Marte, 3B, Cleveland Indians — former top prospect cleared waivers and is headed back to AAA.
• Mike Hessman, 1B/3B, Detroit Tigers — quad-A type, hit for consistent power in AAA for the last seven years but hasn’t won an MLB job. Doesn’t hit for much average.
• Craig Brazell, 1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles — SoftBank apparently passed on him after Seibu let him go last offseason, but he showed power in Japan last year. Probably needs an injury to make the MLB team.
• Jeff Bailey, 1B/OF, Boston Red Sox — been pretty good in AAA the last few years.
• Scott Thorman, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers — got a shot with the Braves but didn’t hit. Has been pretty good in the minors, looks like another quad-A guy.
• Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers — the Hawks tried to get him twice last year. Even if Texas is willing to let him go, he won’t get through waivers. Still, SoftBank can dream.

Any other ideas for the Hawks?