Free agent outfielder Shogo Akiyama, in Hawaii with his teammates on the Seibu Lions’ Pacific League championship trip, said there was no point worrying about the market for his services in the major leagues, the Nikkan Sports reported.
According to the story, Akiyama met with four teams last week in San Diego at the baseball winter meetings: the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and Tampa Bay Rays. On Monday, the Rays made their contract with Akiyama’s Japan international teammate Yoshitomo Tsutsugo official. Akiyama suggested Tsutsugo’s signing had nothing to do with his own opportunities.
“What good would it do to get worked up about things. He (Tsutsugo) and I offer different things.”
The Orix Buffaloes announced Tuesday they had signed veteran major league outfielder Adam Jones to a two-year deal, according to Kyodo News. Junichi Fukura, the Pacific League club’s general manager, said he expects the 34-year-old to be able to adjust to Japan’s game.
Here’s Jones’ agent, Nez Balelo, talking at the baseball winter meetings about his client’s move:
Nez Balelo: “We didn’t kick around Andruw Jones.”
“A lot of foreign batters struggle with inside pitches, but from the video we’ve seen, it appears he can handle those,” Fukura told reporters at the baseball winter meetings in San Diego.
The contract is reported as being worth $8 million.
HERE’s a link to my review of veteran major-league home run hitters coming to Japan and playing more than one season.
Akiyama, Kikuchi in town for winter meetings
Free agent outfielder Shogo Akiyama arrived at the site of the winter meetings on Tuesday, while Mike Seal, the agent for Hiroshima Carp second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi revealed to Kyodo News that his client, too, is in San Diego with roughly three weeks to go before the deadline for Kikuchi to sign a contract.
DeNA BayStars outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, whose posting period will end this week, is also currently in southern California.
Johnson takes his leave of Tigers
Right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson will not return to the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers for a second season, the Daily Sports reported on Tuesday.
Johnson’s 40 holds was third in NPB behind Pacific League leader Naoki Miyanishi of the Nippon Ham Fighters’ 43, and Chunichi Dragons lefty Joely Rodriguez‘s 41. Rodriguez has since agreed to a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers.
Johnson’s curveball was rated by Delta Graphs as the most effective of any right-handed pitcher with over 40 innings last season, while his four-seam fastball was well above average.
According to the Daily Sports report, his agent, John Boggs, said he was in talks with nine to 10 big-league clubs.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have reached an agreement to sign pitcher Robert Suarez, who was released by the SoftBank Hawks.
