Post by MizzouTiger on Nov 19, 2007 12:36:12 GMT -5
kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071118&content_id=2303123&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc
Japanese pitcher could join Royals
Reports circulating that righty reliever close to two-year deal
By thingy Kaegel / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Trey Hillman has left Japanese baseball to join the Royals. Could a Japanese pitcher be on his way as well?
Reports circulated during the weekend that the Royals were negotiating with free agent Yasuhiko Yabuta, a right-handed reliever from the Japan League.
Ken Rosenthal reported on FOXSports.com that sources indicated that the Royals "are close to signing" Yabuta to a two-year contract with a player option for a third year.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he couldn't comment on "any pending negotiations" with any free agent.
Hillman signed in October to manage the Royals as he ended a five-year stay as manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters. Yabuta has pitched 12 years for the rival Chiba Lotte Marines, currently managed by Bobby Valentine, and that club is believed to want him back.
Yabuta, 34, has been primarily a setup man the last four years for the Marines, compiling a 2.80 ERA in 222 appearances during that span. Previously, he was a starting pitcher.
Hillman knows him well.
"I liked him very much," Hillman said. "He's a back-end, right-handed bullpen guy. He's got four pitches, possibly five -- there's a possibility that I just didn't see one of them -- fastball, curveball, slider and change. He might also throw a split."
"He was extremely successful against us and extremely successful the last two years. ... He's a good one."
Last season, Yabuta had a 2.73 ERA, a 4-6 record and four saves in 58 games.
The Royals want to add bullpen depth primarily because setup man David Riske has become a free agent and Zack Greinke has returned to the starting rotation.
Riske declined a $2.9 million option with the Royals for 2008 and, as a free agent, is seeking a multi-year deal. The Royals still would like to bring him back.
"We need to sign two or three relievers," Moore said.
According to Rosenthal, the Chicago White Sox had been interested in Yabuta, who struck out Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Derrek Lee in a 2006 World Baseball Classic appearance against Team USA.
Japanese pitcher could join Royals
Reports circulating that righty reliever close to two-year deal
By thingy Kaegel / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Trey Hillman has left Japanese baseball to join the Royals. Could a Japanese pitcher be on his way as well?
Reports circulated during the weekend that the Royals were negotiating with free agent Yasuhiko Yabuta, a right-handed reliever from the Japan League.
Ken Rosenthal reported on FOXSports.com that sources indicated that the Royals "are close to signing" Yabuta to a two-year contract with a player option for a third year.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he couldn't comment on "any pending negotiations" with any free agent.
Hillman signed in October to manage the Royals as he ended a five-year stay as manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters. Yabuta has pitched 12 years for the rival Chiba Lotte Marines, currently managed by Bobby Valentine, and that club is believed to want him back.
Yabuta, 34, has been primarily a setup man the last four years for the Marines, compiling a 2.80 ERA in 222 appearances during that span. Previously, he was a starting pitcher.
Hillman knows him well.
"I liked him very much," Hillman said. "He's a back-end, right-handed bullpen guy. He's got four pitches, possibly five -- there's a possibility that I just didn't see one of them -- fastball, curveball, slider and change. He might also throw a split."
"He was extremely successful against us and extremely successful the last two years. ... He's a good one."
Last season, Yabuta had a 2.73 ERA, a 4-6 record and four saves in 58 games.
The Royals want to add bullpen depth primarily because setup man David Riske has become a free agent and Zack Greinke has returned to the starting rotation.
Riske declined a $2.9 million option with the Royals for 2008 and, as a free agent, is seeking a multi-year deal. The Royals still would like to bring him back.
"We need to sign two or three relievers," Moore said.
According to Rosenthal, the Chicago White Sox had been interested in Yabuta, who struck out Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Derrek Lee in a 2006 World Baseball Classic appearance against Team USA.