2012 Players signed (or apparently) to play overseas

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:16 pm

Jeremy Hermida was once a top prospect for the Marlins, ranking fourth on Baseball America‘s list of the best prospects in the game back in 2006, but he never developed beyond a decent role player and now he’s headed to Japan at age 27.

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Japanese report that Hermida has signed with the Yomiuri Giants, who this year had former major leaguers Brian Bannister, Seth Greisinger, Jonathan Albaladejo, Michael Nakamura, Alex Ramirez, Rusty Ryal, and Josh Fields on their roster.

Hermida spent most of this season at Triple-A in the Reds’ system, hitting .319 with 17 homers and a .924 OPS in 105 games, and also played 30 games in the majors with Cincinnati and San Diego. He’s a career .257 hitter with a .749 OPS, so there certainly could be a place for him as a part-time player on a lot of teams, but Hermida can make more money in Japan and has a chance to become a star there while he’s still relatively young.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/ ... -to-japan/

OR MAYBE NOT:

Hearing that while Yomiuri Giants inquired on Hermida, he's not signing to play in Japan.

http://twitter.com/#!/timdierkes/status ... 3871954946

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:12 am

Dustin Nippert has signed a two-year extension with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. The righthander went 15-6, 2.55 in 2011 and was second in the league in strikeouts, fanning 150 in 187 innings.

Jamey Newberg TROT COFFEY E-mail 11/13/2011

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:47 pm

Diamondbacks sold RHP Kam Mickolio to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League.

The Diamondbacks announced the move on Monday. Mickolio, 27, has a 4.83 ERA and 33/17 K/BB ratio over 31 2/3 innings over parts of four major league seasons between Baltimore and Arizona.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5449/kam-mickolio

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:17 am

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, Alfredo Figaro has re-signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League.

Figaro, 26, will make $750,000 next season and could earn an additional $375,000 with incentives. The former Tigers' property posted a 3.42 ERA and 90/36 K/BB ratio over 123 2/3 innings during his first season in Japan.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5532/alfredo-figaro

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:45 am

Darrell Rasner's 2012 club option was picked up by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League.

The former Yankee and National will receive $1.5 million next season plus incentives. Rasner, who turns 31 in January, has pitched in Japan for the past three seasons and posted a 2.04 ERA, 16 saves and a 46/16 K/BB ratio over 53 innings in 2011

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1281/darrell-rasner

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:38 pm

According to the Japanese website Sponichi, Wily Mo Peña is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Softbank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Pena will reportedly receive around $5 million, so it's no surprise that he decided to take the deal rather than catch on with someone in the states on a minor league contract. The 29-year-old batted .204/.250/.416 with seven homers over 120 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks and Mariners this season.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3071/wily-mo-peña

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:18 pm

He's going to hit 75 homers, and still bat .200...

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:32 pm

According to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, Scott Mathieson has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.

Mathieson, who was released by the Phillies on Tuesday, will serve as the Giants' closer while earning roughly $2 million with the chance for more with incentives. The 27-year-old right-hander has bounced back from two Tommy John surgeries, but has a 6.75 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 34/21 K/BB ratio over 44 innings in the majors.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/412 ... -mathieson

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:39 pm

According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, Matt Murton will remain with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.

Many wondered if Murton would attempt to return to the majors after two successful seasons in Japan, but it sounds like we'll have to wait another year. The 30-year-old outfielder previously played for the Cubs, Rockies and Athletics.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1255/matt-murton

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:34 pm

Mitch Talbot has signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization.

He will make $300,000. Talbot's agent, Andrew Lowenthal, said last month that he was talking to 15 different teams about his client, but it's hard to believe that now that Talbot has taken a relatively modest deal to play overseas. The 28-year-old held an ugly 6.64 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 63 2/3 major league innings -- 12 starts -- this season for the Indians.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1263/mitch-talbot

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:46 am

WhiteSox wrote:Jeremy Hermida was once a top prospect for the Marlins, ranking fourth on Baseball America‘s list of the best prospects in the game back in 2006, but he never developed beyond a decent role player and now he’s headed to Japan at age 27.

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a Japanese report that Hermida has signed with the Yomiuri Giants, who this year had former major leaguers Brian Bannister, Seth Greisinger, Jonathan Albaladejo, Michael Nakamura, Alex Ramirez, Rusty Ryal, and Josh Fields on their roster.

Hermida spent most of this season at Triple-A in the Reds’ system, hitting .319 with 17 homers and a .924 OPS in 105 games, and also played 30 games in the majors with Cincinnati and San Diego. He’s a career .257 hitter with a .749 OPS, so there certainly could be a place for him as a part-time player on a lot of teams, but Hermida can make more money in Japan and has a chance to become a star there while he’s still relatively young.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/ ... -to-japan/

OR MAYBE NOT:

Hearing that while Yomiuri Giants inquired on Hermida, he's not signing to play in Japan.

http://twitter.com/#!/timdierkes/status ... 3871954946

Jeremy Hermida recently turned down opportunity to play in Japan. Still looking for a job with an MLB team.

https://twitter.com/#!/jcrasnick/status ... 6386725889

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:58 pm

Lastings Milledge has signed a two-year contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Milledge batted .295/.364/.441 with 12 homers and 27 steals over 444 at-bats for Triple-A Charlotte this year, but that evidently wasn't enough to draw much interest from major league clubs. Just 26, he has time to return to the states after hoping to making an impact overseas.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/826 ... s-milledge

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:38 pm

Royals released RHP Mario Santiago.

Santiago was granted his release so he can join the SK Wyverns in Korea. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 3.70 ERA and 82/45 K/BB ratio this past season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/6901/mario-santiago

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:42 pm

Esteban German signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.He'll earn $1 million in Japan.

German, 33, appeared in just 11 games with the Rangers this past season, but was a surprise addition to the team's World Series roster. He became a free agent after being removed from the 40-man roster in November.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3474/esteban-german

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:59 pm

Astros released OF Nick Stavinoha.

Stavinoha has signed a contract with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Central League and is likely to spend the entire 2012 season overseas. He batted .270 with an .817 OPS in 133 games this past year at Triple-A Memphis.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/4277/nick-stavinoha

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:50 pm

Phillies released OF-1B John Bowker.

Bowker is headed to Japan, where he's found a more substantial contract and a better shot at regular playing time. The 28-year-old batted .133/.188/.167 across 32 plate appearances last season for the Pirates and Phils.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5245/john-bowker

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:16 am

Scott Proctor signed a contract with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization.

Proctor, 34, posted an ugly 7.14 ERA and 29/31 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings last season between the Braves and Yankees last season. He'll be teammates with former major-leaguer Dustin Nippert, who signed a deal with the club last March.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3776/scott-proctor

Cardinals · Post by **Cardinals** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:46 am

Renyel Pinto has signed a contract with the Softbank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Pinto was given a one-year contract worth around $910,000 in US dollars. The 29-year-old left-hander had a nice showing in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason and should fare well this year in Japan

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/471/renyel-pinto

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:09 pm

Horacio Ramirez has signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization.

Terms aren't yet available. Ramirez didn't draw much interest in the free agent market after posting a 6.00 ERA over 12 relief appearances last season with the Angels. The 32-year-old left-hander owns a 4.65 career ERA over eight major-league seasons.

IBC

2012 Players signed (or apparently) to play overseas

2012 Players signed (or apparently) to play overseas

Dustin Nippert

Kam Mickolio

Alfredo Figaro

Darrell Rasner

Wily Mo Peña

Scott Mathieson

Matt Murton

Mitch Talbot

Re: 2012 Players signed (or apparently) to play overseas

Lastings Milledge

Mario Santiago

Esteban German

Nick Stavinoha

John Bowker

Scott Proctor

Renyel Pinto