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Yokohama Considering Japanese Major Leaguers

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Yokohama Considering Japanese Major Leaguers

by Patrick Newman (Sep 3, 2009)

The Yokohama BayStars have routinely had the worst pitching staff in Japan the last few years, and word from Sponichi has it that they'll be looking to re-import some help from the States this off-season. Said an unnamed member of the 'Hama front office: "we're two or three starters short, and getting a pitcher who can close is a point to improve on. We're seeing if we can use any of the Japanese pitchers who are playing in America." Ironically, this is the team that wouldn't take Satoru Komiyama back after he returned from the Mets.

Sponichi mentions Tomo Ohka, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and Masahide Kobayashi as guys the BayStars could look at. Ohka spent time with Yokohama early in his career, but requested and was granted his release to pursue a shot at the Majors. Two other names I'll throw out are Kei Igawa, who would have to take a pay cut to return to Japan, and Takashi Saito, who is much more of a wildcard - he'd need to be non-tendered, and he's also performed much better in the States than he did in Japan.

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