Players signed or apparently signed to play overseas in 2019

[Padres]

And so it begins …

Kennys Vargas has signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.

Vargas, 28, spent the entire 2018 season with Triple-A Rochester while batting .240/.326/.425 with 21 home runs and 73 RBI over 130 games. He appeared in 236 games with the Twins from 2014-2017 and never really panned out as hoped, but he would seem to be a good candidate to find success overseas.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/7623/kennys-vargas

[Padres]

Chad Bell has agreed to a one-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Bell will receive a $200,000 signing bonus and a $400,000 salary -- so $600,000 total. That's a pretty good haul for a guy who surrendered seven earned runs over his 7 1/3 innings of relief this past season at the MLB level. The 29-year-old right-hander was a 14th-round pick of the Rangers in the 2009 MLB Draft.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/8905/chad-bell

[Padres]

Warwick Saupold has signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Saupold got a one-year, $1 million contract -- a $300,000 signing bonus and $700,000 salary. That is far more than the 28-year-old right-hander likely would have found on the MLB open market this winter. He owns a 4.98 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 70/47 K/BB ratio in 106 2/3 career major league innings.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/888 ... ck-saupold

[Padres]

Brock Dykxhoorn has agreed to a one-year contract with the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Dykxhoorn has been in the Astros organization since 2014 after being selected in the sixth-round by Houston out of Central Arizona Junior College. He spent last year in Triple-A with Fresno, and in just over 74 innings he posted a 4.60 ERA with a 79/16 K/BB ratio. At 6-foot-8, 240-pounds, Dykxhoorn has the size to be a durable starter, but the stuff suggests he's better suited for being a long reliever or mop-up hurler. A strong year in the KBO could help change that view, however.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/102 ... -dykxhoorn

[Twins]

Brock Dykxhoorn has agreed to a one-year contract with the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Dykxhoorn has been in the Astros organization since 2014 after being selected in the sixth-round by Houston out of Central Arizona Junior College. He spent last year in Triple-A with Fresno, and in just over 74 innings he posted a 4.60 ERA with a 79/16 K/BB ratio. At 6-foot-8, 240-pounds, Dykxhoorn has the size to be a durable starter, but the stuff suggests he's better suited for being a long reliever or mop-up hurler. A strong year in the KBO could help change that view, however.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/102 ... -dykxhoorn

Not a real person.

[Padres]

Brock Dykxhoorn has agreed to a one-year contract with the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Dykxhoorn has been in the Astros organization since 2014 after being selected in the sixth-round by Houston out of Central Arizona Junior College. He spent last year in Triple-A with Fresno, and in just over 74 innings he posted a 4.60 ERA with a 79/16 K/BB ratio. At 6-foot-8, 240-pounds, Dykxhoorn has the size to be a durable starter, but the stuff suggests he's better suited for being a long reliever or mop-up hurler. A strong year in the KBO could help change that view, however.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/102 ... -dykxhoorn

Not a real person.

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?pl ... g/2018/ALL


SK Wyverns sign Canadian pitcher Dykxhoorn

All Headlines 10:39 November 16, 2018

SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- The 2018 South Korean pro baseball champions SK Wyverns said Friday they've signed Brock Dykxhoorn, a Canadian pitcher, for next season.

The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) club inked a one-year deal worth US$700,000 with Dykxhoorn to replace ace Merrill Kelly, who will pursue a career in Major League Baseball.

Dykxhoorn, 24, was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2014 but has yet to make his major league debut. The right-hander amassed 33 wins and 21 losses with a 4.37 ERA in 108 minor league games.

For this season, he went 6-3 with a 4.60 ERA in 14 games with the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the Astros.

The Wyverns said Dykxhoorn is known for his powerful fastball that comes from his 203-centimeter, 130-kilogram frame, and can also throw sliders, curves and changeups.

The Incheon-based club said Dykxhoorn trained together with the club's slugger Jamie Romak during the offseason as both players have known each other from the Canadian national team.

"Dykxhoorn was one of the prospects for the Astros but didn't get many opportunities," a Wyverns official said. "Like we acquired Kelly in the past, the player had a good impression on the KBO League, so negotiations went well."

Dykxhoorn said through the club that he is "honored" to be part of the franchise that won the KBO League and will try his best to defend the title.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20181116002600315

[Twins]

I'm still convinced that Brock Dykxhoorn came out of an old video game name generator.

[Astros]

I bet he's hanging around some explosive barrels with other henchmen tonight

[Padres]

MBC+ News in Korea has reported that Jacob Turner has signed with the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Turner has posted a 5.37 ERA over parts of seven seasons for five different teams in the majors. The former top prospect is still just 27 but is ready to try things overseas.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5982/jacob-turner

[Astros]

MBC+ News in Korea has reported that Jacob Turner has signed with the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Turner has posted a 5.37 ERA over parts of seven seasons for five different teams in the majors. The former top prospect is still just 27 but is ready to try things overseas.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5982/jacob-turner

Hope I never see an update on him ever again

[Mets]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/new-york-mets

The Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced that they’ve signed left-hander Kyle Regnault for the 2019 season (link via the Japan Times). Soon to turn 30, Regnault spent his first three professional seasons pitching in indy ball before joining the Mets in 2015. All of his work with affiliated clubs has come in the Mets’ system, and Regnault has a 4.10 ERA with a 130-to-47 K/BB ratio in 109 2/3 innings of Triple-A work. In his first season overseas, Regnault will secure a $400K base salary with the opportunity to earn more via incentives, as well as a $125K signing bonus (hat tip to Yakyudb.com). For a lefty that was on the indy circuit just four years ago, that’s a nice chunk of guaranteed money to bring home, and continued success in NPB would obviously lead to greater earning power.

[Padres]

Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic report that the Padres are selling Christian Villanueva to the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.

Villanueva got off to a tremendous start in 2018, but he batted just .232/.292/.351 between June 1 and his final regular-season game on August 21. The early shutdown was due to a fractured right middle finger. San Diego will search for a more reliable third baseman on the free agent and trade markets this winter.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/670 ... villanueva

[Padres]

Red Sox released RHP William Cuevas.

Cuevas has reportedly agreed to a contract with a team in the Korea Baseball Organization. The 28-year-old right-hander from Caracas, Venezuela has allowed 20 earned runs in 22 1/3 career major league innings.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/8719/william-cuevas

[Padres]

Twins released RHP Alan Busenitz.

His rights were sold to the Rakuten Eagles in Japan. Busenitz had a strong showing as a rookie in 2017, but he surrendered 22 earned runs on 37 hits and 14 walks over 25 1/3 innings of relief this past season with the Twins.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/9101/alan-busenitz

[Padres]

Casey Kelly has agreed to a contract with the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Kelly broke the news on his personal Instagram page. The former first-round pick was pushed off the Giants' 40-man roster in October and elected to become a free agent. He holds a 5.46 ERA in 85 2/3 career major league innings.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5583/casey-kelly

[Padres]

Zach Neal has agreed to a contract with the Seibu Lions in Japan.

Neal elected to become a free agent in late October after being pushed off the Dodgers' 40-man roster. He spent the majority of the 2018 season at the Triple-A level, posting a 4.63 ERA in 14 starts and 18 relief appearances. Neal, 30, will probably be used as a starter in the Japanese Pacific League.

Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/8919/zach-neal

[Padres]

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, Tommy Joseph has signed with the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization.

It's a one-year, $1 million deal. Joseph, best known for his time with the Phillies, spent most of 2018 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate while batting .284/.353/.549 with 21 homers. The 27-year-old will now take his chances overseas.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/6189/tommy-joseph

[Padres]

Justin Haley has signed with the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization.

He'll receive a $650,000 guarantee, with the chance for an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses. Haley, 27, was outrighted off the 40-man roster for the Red Sox earlier this month. The right-hander appeared in four games with Boston in 2018 and posted a 3.80 ERA over 22 starts in Triple-A.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/9247/justin-haley

[Padres]

Mariners released RHP Casey Lawrence to allow him an opportunity to play in Japan.

Lawrence, 31, pitched sparingly for the Mariners in 2017 and 2018, accumulating an ERA of 6.64 with a 14/10 K/BB ratio over 78 2/3 innings. There's no word as to what team Lawrence is signing on with in Japan, but it'll likely be a one-year deal where the right-hander tries to show that he can complete at the highest level in the future.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/9182/casey-lawrence

[Padres]

Drew Rucinski has signed with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization.

He'll receive $1 million guaranteed, including a $200,000 signing bonus. The deal also includes an option for another $200,000. Rucinski recently declared free agency after posting a 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 27/13 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings out of the Marlins' bullpen in 2018.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/7924/drew-rucinski

[Padres]

Eddie Butler has signed with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization.

He'll receive an $800,000 salary and a signing bonus of $200,000. Butler put up a rough 5.62 ERA and 29/19 K/BB ratio over 49 2/3 innings between the Cubs and Rangers in 2018. The 27-year-old was recently outrighted off Texas' 40-man roster.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/7513/eddie-butler

[Padres]

Justin Hancock, who was non-tendered by the Cubs last week, has a deal with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan.

A source told The Athletic's Robert Murray that it's worth $700,000 and includes an option for 2020. Hancock, 28, made his major league debut last season, allowing two runs in 12 1/3 innings for the Cubs.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/8133/justin-hancock

[Padres]

Robert Murray of The Athletic reports that Jabari Blash has an agreement in place with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan.

Blash was released by the Angels last month after batting .103/.200/.128 over 45 major league plate appearances in 2018. He spent the majority of the year at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he excelled to the tune of a .317/.431/.700 batting line with 29 home runs in just 83 games. It's easy to envision the powerful 29-year-old outfielder having a good run of success overseas, a la Eric Thames.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/7804/jabari-blash

[Yankees]

RIP SIM Stud.

[Padres]

Hisashi Iwakuma has agreed to a contract with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

Iwakuma, a native of Tokyo, told reporters in September that he was planning to head home for the 2019 season. He signed a minor league deal with the Mariners last November but missed all of 2018 while recovering from a shoulder injury. The 37-year-old right-hander wraps up his MLB career with a 63-39 record, 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 714/185 K/BB ratio in 883 2/3 innings with Seattle. He finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2013.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/581 ... hi-iwakuma