Alex Ramirez was named MVP of Japan's Central League for the second straight year :applaud:
The 35-year-old Ramirez hit .322 in helping the Yomiuri Giants to their first Japan Series championship since 2002. He had 31 homers and drove in 103 runs in 144 games this season, his ninth in Japan.
His clutch hitting helped the Giants win the CL pennant with a comfortable 12-game lead over the Chunichi Dragons.
"Playing for the Giants there is a lot of pressure," Ramirez said. "But I'm really happy with the numbers I put up and I want to thank everyone who voted for me who thought I deserved to be MVP in 2009."
Before coming to Japan, Ramirez played in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates.
via ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4666190 ESPN DEPORTES http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=932848&s=bei&type=story
ATLANTA (AP)—Japanese reliever Takashi Saito agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with Atlanta on Thursday as the Braves make another move to strengthen their pitching staff.
Saito, who turns 40 in February, has 83 saves in four major league seasons after a long career in Japan. He made the National League All-Star team in 2007, when he had 39 saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, the right-hander went 3-3 with two saves and a 2.43 ERA in a setup role for the Boston Red Sox.
Saito is expected to remain in that spot with the Braves, who signed closer Billy Wagner(notes) to a $7 million, one-year deal on Wednesday, though there might be an occasional chance to save games.
Braves manager Bobby Cox already likes the team that is coming together as he prepares for his last season in the dugout.
gWefve got two outstanding relief pitchers in the last two days and we havenft even been to the winter meetings yet, so we are way ahead of the game,h Cox said. gYoufre not going to go very far if you donft have a great bullpen.h
Cox said he might rotate Wagner, a left-hander, and Saito based on the situation. Cox had success last season doing that with Soriano and Gonzalez.
gWhen Wagnerfs not closing, (Saito will) be closing,h the manager said. gAnd vice versa at times, depending on who wefre facing.h
Saitofs agreement provides $500,000 in bonuses for appearances and a hefty $1.8 million in bonuses based on games finished.
gI definitely wanted to be in those pressure situations,h Saito said through an interpreter. gAs a professional athlete, I think you always strive for competing at the most important, pressure-filled situations. That definitely affected my decision.h
Saito will be the second Japanese player to suit up for the Braves. Kenshin Kawakami(notes) spent most of last season in the starting rotation, going 7-12 with a 3.86 ERA.
World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and the Los Angeles Angels have
reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract, the
Associated Press reported Monday.
The 35-year-old Matsui, who last month became a free agent after
seven years with the New York Yankees, has agreed to a deal worth
about $6.5 million, a person familiar with the deal was quoted as
saying by AP. Last year, he made about $13 million in New York.
Matsui, who has just concluded the last year of a four-year, $52
million contract with the Yankees, batted .274 with 28 homers and 90
RBIs in 142 games this year.
He drove in six runs in the decisive Game 6 of the World Series
and had three home runs and eight RBIs in six games to become the
first Japanese-born player to win the series MVP award.
The former Yomiuri Giants star was used as a designated hitter
this past season and did not play defense because of bad knees.
Matsui had hoped to remain in New York after becoming a free
agent but the Yankees had been wary of committing as they seem more
inclined to use older players like Jorge Posada in the DH spot.
Over seven years with the Yankees, Matsui batted .292 with 140
homers and 597 RBIs in 916 games.
CHICAGO – Outfielder Juan Pierre was traded to the Chicago White Sox from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday along with $10.5 million for two players to be named.
bmwracer wrote:And Lackey has gone to the BoSox and Figgins to the Mariners.
None of the players from the 2002 Championship are there anymore, huh?
Still need a LF, Cameron is not the answer, :usuck: maybe a catcher so Martinez can play first and Youk can go to third, :hehe: not sure who the Rangers are dangling to obtain Lowell.
NEW YORK (AP)—Japanese reliever Ryota Igarashi is close to completing a two-year contract with the New York Mets, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.
Igarashi, a 30-year-old right-hander, throws 93-94 mph with a splitter, the person said. New York needs setup help in the bullpen for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Igarashi pitched for the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese Central League.
I wonder if Momo-chan is part of the deal - "IGARASHI!!!"
bmwracer wrote:Mariners trade underperforming pitcher Carlos Silva for mercurial outfielder Milton Bradley. :sweat:
Isn't it like the 6th team in 7 years for Bradley? :usuck: Let's see how long it takes him to destroy that clubhouse, M's had the makings of a good team after picking up Lee, still may. :fingerscrossed:
hitomi #1 wrote:Isn't it like the 6th team in 7 years for Bradley? :usuck: Let's see how long it takes him to destroy that clubhouse, M's had the makings of a good team after picking up Lee, still may. :fingerscrossed:
The guy's practically the very definition of a pariah... :sweat:
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