Hawks release, Moore, van den Hurk, Uchikawa, Colas on cut day
The Pacific League’s SoftBank Hawks parted company, at least technically with pitchers Matt Moore and Rick van den Hurk, while making longtime captain Seiichi Uchikawa free to complete a deal with the Central League’s Yakult Swallows on Wednesday.
Nippon Professsional Baseball’s teams are required to submit their reserve lists for the 2021 season on Dec. 2, the big day for releases across Japan. The moves don’t necessarily mean that neither Moore nor van den Hurk will be back with the four-time defending Japan Series champions, but it does mean they were unable to or unwilling to exercise an option to keep them.
Cuban two-way player Oscar Colas, who has been on the restricted list since Feb. 19, was released by not being placed on the Hawks’ 2021 reserve list, meaning he will be free to sign with an MLB club as an international amateur when the next international signing period opens in June.
Cuts throw import market wide open
The winter NPB market for import players heated up considerably with Tuesday’s cuts when a number of experienced players with established value were left off their clubs’ reserves list. Here’s a brief rundown:
Lotte Marines
- LHP Chen Wei-yin
- RHP Frank Herrmann
Seibu Lions
- RHP Reed Garrett
- LHP Sean Nolin
Rakuten Eagles
- RHP JT Chargois
- RHP DJ Johnson
- OF Stefen Romero
- OF Jabari Blash
Nippon Ham Fighters
Orix Buffaloes
Yomiuri Giants
- IF Nattino Diplan
- OF Israel Mota
- OF Gerardo Parra
Hanshin Tigers
- RHP Robert Suarez
- LHP Onelki Garcia
Chunichi Dragons
- LHP Luis Gonzalez
- LHP Enny Romero
- OF Zoilo Almonte
- OF Moises Sierra
DeNA Baystars
- RHP Spencer Patton
- 1B Jose Lopez
Hiroshima Carp
- LHP Kris Johnson
- LHP Emailin Montilla
- IF/OF Jose Pirela
Yakult Swallows
- RHP Matt Koch
