February 16, 2012
CHICAGO -- Four years later, the Chicago White Sox finally signed Kosuke Fukudome -- and for a fraction of the price he cost the Cubs.
February 14, 2012
Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League is considering announcing the starting pitchers before all of its games, a proposal that is being met with mixed reactions among some pitching coaches and managers.
February 07, 2012
An influenza epidemic is spreading through Japanese professional baseball just as players are entering spring training.
February 07, 2012
Former Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Jojima's future is in doubt because he is unable to crouch for long periods following knee surgery, the Hanshin Tigers said on Feb. 6.
January 31, 2012
You can pretty much envision the joy in Arlington, Texas, when it was announced that the Rangers had won the bidding for the rights to Nippon-Ham ace Yu Darvish. Execs of the ballclub would no doubt have been exchanging back-slaps, high-fives and furious handshakes at the news that they, alone, would be able to work out a contract with the most sought-after Japanese pitcher on the planet.
January 25, 2012
Among the new class of NPB rookies, one name has stood out this offseason. Baseball fans, commentators and fellow players will all be keeping a close eye on Takumi Oshima, the seventh-round draft pick of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
January 25, 2012
Pitching superstar Yu Darvish bid farewell on Jan. 24 to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters’ fans, who were at Sapporo Dome to get a last glimpse of their former ace.
January 21, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Before the Texas Rangers committed more than $107 million (about 8.2 billion yen) to get Japan's best pitcher, they spent more than two years watching and getting to know Yu Darvish.
January 21, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Japan's best pitcher Yu Darvish is now officially a Texas Rangers player, after his formal introduction Jan. 20, two days after agreeing to a six-year contract guaranteeing him $56 million.
January 20, 2012
Manabu Kitabeppu, a former Hiroshima Carp pitcher who was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame this month, was known as a “precision machine” due to his accuracy and control on the pitcher’s mound.
January 19, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Japan's best pitcher Yu Darvish and major league team the Texas Rangers agreed before the Jan. 18 deadline to a $60 million (about 4.6 billion yen), six-year contract.
January 18, 2012
When American League West rivals Seattle and Oakland open their MLB regular seasons at Tokyo Dome in March, all eyes will be on Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.
January 18, 2012
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers looked overseas to add some depth to their outfield Jan. 17, signing Japanese star Norichika Aoki to a two-year deal with a club option for 2014.
January 17, 2012
According to the Chinese zodiac, this is the Year of the Dragon. But can the Chunichi Dragons make it their year as well?
January 17, 2012
Hideki Matsui or no Hideki Matsui, Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin is looking forward to opening the 2012 Major League Baseball season in Japan.
January 14, 2012
NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees made a major push to bolster their starting rotation by agreeing to terms with pitcher Hiroki Kuroda on a $10 million, one-year contract shortly after acquiring youngster Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners.
January 13, 2012
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers President and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was impressed by his first meeting with Japanese sensation Yu Darvish and is confident a contract will be completed by next week's deadline.
January 12, 2012
Among a group of highly touted first-year pitchers who made their debuts during the 2011 NPB season, one man stood above the rest.
January 12, 2012
The Seattle Mariners officially signed former Softbank Hawks shortstop Munenori Kawasaki to a minor-league free-agent contract with an invitation to spring training, the American League club announced Jan. 11.
January 11, 2012
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles have signed pitcher Chen Wei-yin, a 26-year-old left-hander who spent the last four seasons in Japan playing with the Central League's Chunichi Dragons.