The Hanshin Tigers have set a Dec. 12 deadline — the final day of the baseball winter meetings in San Diego to decide on whether to try and bring back reliever Pierce Johnson or pursue other options, the Hochi Shimbun reported Sunday.
The 28-year-old right-hander was one of the Central League’s premier middle relievers in his 2019 debut Japan season.
Tigers officials are now in the U.S. to try and iron out agreements with Johnson and fellow right-hander Rafael Dolis.
The Seibu Lions announced Friday they have reached an agreement to re-sign first baseman-pinch-hitter Ernesto Mejia on Friday and that they have also come to terms on deals with 29-year-old left-handed starter Sean Nolin and 28-year-old infielder Cory Spangenberg. In his major league career,
Spangenberg has played every position except first base and catcher, making him an obvious understudy to Japan national team utility man Shuta Tonosaki — although given the larger rosters and 12-inning limits, it is highly unlikely he’ll get to relive his two games of pitching experience from 2018.
The two-time defending Pacific League champions have also signed 31-year-old former Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers infielder Yuto Morikoshi.
Mejia (33), who lost his first base job due to the ascension of 2018 PL MVP Hotaka Yamakawa, will be entering his seventh NPB season, all with the Lions. In 2014, he joined Seibu shortly after the start of the season and tied for the league home run lead, the first time a player had done that in Japan.
His NPB player page is HERE.
