The Kansas City Royals have signed Japanese right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta to a 2-year, $6 million deal. Yabuta, who turns 35 in June, has spent his entire 12-year career with the Chiba Lotte Marines and been a fairly effective reliever over the past four seasons.
Yabuta emphasized new Kansas City manager Trey Hillman’s presence as a factor in his signing:
Mr. Hillman knows Japanese baseball and Japanese players. He knows my style. He understands me very well.
Hillman, of course, managed in Japan for several years and was very successful there. Related to Hillman’s experience on the other side of the Pacific, general manager …read more

That’s the question Jackson Broder asks at East Windup Chronicle. He profiles several hitters and pitchers playing in Japan’s NPB who could make the jump to North America.
Kosuke Fukudome of the Chunichi Dragons has been getting a fair amount of play as a potential impact outfielder should he cross the pond. Jackson compares him to Bob Abreu, with the caveats that Fukudome recently underwent elbow surgery and that some of his power could be lost in translation on moving to MLB (sometimes you get Hideki Matsui, sometimes you get Kazuo Matsui).
The pitching side is less clear. As Akinori Otsuka, Shingo …read more

I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the All-Star game. That said, the notion that Sammy Sosa, a designated hitter who can’t crack an 800 OPS while playing half his games in Arlington, might make the American League squad offends me more than a little bit.
Mark Teixeira would be the obvious choice to represent the Rangers, but he’s hurt. Pitchers? Not the rotation — nobody has an ERA under 5.90. Okay, then, reward Akinori Otsuka for his fine 2006 season. Or Eric Gagne for mostly staying healthy. Or ditch the rule that says every team has to be …read more