Players Signed to Play Overseas (2025)

[Padres]

Ariel Jurado has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization.

The 28-year-old hurler has spent the previous two seasons in Korea as well with the Kiwoom Heroes, most recently posting a 3.36 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 169/32 K/BB ratio across 190 1/3 innings in his 30 starts during the 2024 season. Jurado hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the pandemic-truncated 2020 campaign.

https://www.nbcsports.com/ariel-jurado/ ... fd8d810048

[Padres]

Spencer Howard has signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan.

A strikeout machine in the minors for the Phillies, Howard looked like a future third or fourth starter as a prospect, but he proved too homer-prone to contribute. He heads to Japan with a 4-13 record and a 7.00 ERA over 32 starts and 15 relief appearances for the Phillies, Rangers, Giants and Guardians.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/spencer-howard/48934

[Padres]

In a bit of a surprise ...

Kyle Keller has signed a one-year contract to return to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

There could have been opportunities available for Keller stateside after he registered a terrific 1.38 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 59/21 K/BB ratio over 52 innings in Japan in 2024. He has now put together three straight spectacular seasons there, where he has blossomed into one of the league’s premiere setup men. Perhaps he’s just comfortable in his role and surroundings there and doesn’t have a desire to return to the big leagues.

https://www.nbcsports.com/kyle-keller/0 ... fd607f001f

[Padres]

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Estevan Florial has signed a one-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Florial was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball, but he’s become just organizational fodder over the past few years. The 27-year-old will have a chance to reestablish his stock with a strong season in the KBO.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/estevan-florial/50373

[Padres]

Peter Lambert signed a one-year deal with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Lambert elected free agency after being designated for assignment at the end of the 2024 season. The 27-year-old is a former top prospect who has struggled considerably at the highest level of play, and he’ll get a chance to revitalize his career overseas.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/peter-lambert/48840

[Padres]

Patrick Wisdom signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization.

On paper, this sure seems like a perfect fit. Wisdom was non-tendered by the Cubs near the end of November, but the 33-year-old has been a consistent source of power. He just hasn’t consistently helped anywhere else. A good showing in the KBO could see him return to the states.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/patrick-wisdom/48174

[Padres]

Kyle Muller has signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan.

Muller didn’t fare too badly as a reliever for the A’s last season, but they still DFA’d him in August and he wound up going unclaimed on waivers. Brought back in September, he was again outrighted after the season and became a free agent. The 27-year-old heads to Japan with a 4-11 record and a 5.90 ERA in 24 starts and 30 relief appearances as a major leaguer. He’s a threat to resurface stateside as a superior pitcher in a year or two.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/kyle-muller/48659

[Padres]

RHP Jon Duplantier signed with the Hansin Tigers of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan.

Duplantier had been with the Braves and Brewers in 2024 but will now head overseas to try to resurrect his professional career.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/jon-dupla ... fd8d81012e

[Padres]

Trey Cabbage has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Cabbage was cut loose earlier this week by Pittsburgh to pursue an opportunity overseas and will head to Japan in an effort to build up his long-term appeal. The 27-year-old has put up ridiculous power/speed combo numbers at the Triple-A level, but has also struck out a ton in the process, and never quite was able to make it work in the majors.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/trey-cabbage/68116

[Padres]

Logan Allen, who spent part of last season in Arizona’s bullpen, has signed with the NC Dinos of Korea.

This is not the Logan Allen who has started games for the Guardians the last two years, though this Logan Allen did pitch for the Guardians from 2019-22. He heads to Korea with a 5-11 record and a 5.79 ERA in 124 1/3 innings over five major league seasons.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/logan-allen/49954

[Padres]

Zach Logue has signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Logue will take his talents overseas to Korea after being non-tendered last month by the Dodgers. The 28-year-old southpaw made just two appearances last year for the Dodgers and holds a bloated 7.20 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 56/22 K/BB ratio across 70 innings (19 appearances, 10 starts) in the big leagues since 2022.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/zach-logue/49912

[Padres]

Tucker Davidson has signed with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Davidson elected free agency back in October after being jettisoned from Baltimore’s 40-man roster and will take his talents overseas to rebuild his long-term value. The 28-year-old lefty made one relief appearance last year for the Orioles and posted a solid 3.89 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 104/46 K/BB ratio across 115 2/3 innings (32 appearances, 17 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/tucker-davidson/49196

[Padres]

Naoyuki Uwasawa signed a four-year deal with the SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Uwasawa returns to Japan after an unsuccessful venture last year with the Red Sox that saw him designated for assignment in the middle of the season, and he went unclaimed. The 30-year-old has been effective at the NBP level, and that’s likely where he’ll finish his career.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/naoyuki-uwasawa/242822

[Padres]

Nick Nelson has signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan.

Nelson, 29, spent the last three years with the Phillies, though after posting a 4.85 ERA and leading the NL in wild pitches with 13 in 68 2/3 innings in 2022, he was mostly a minor leaguer the last two seasons. He originally came up with the Yankees in 2020, and he had a 5.20 ERA in 114 1/3 innings over five MLB seasons.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/nick-nelson/48639

[Padres]

Dodgers ZiPS already posted but this guy may show up on Dan's final spreadsheet:

Dodgers signed RHP Julian Fernández to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Fernández last pitched in the majors back in 2021, and spent last year with Veracruz in Mexico. He pitched well there with a 1.82 ERA and 43/12 K/BB over 34 appearances, and the Dodgers will give the 29-year-old a look during the Cactus League.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/julian-fernandez/49115

[Padres]

Royals ZiPs not posted yet so this player may be included in it:

Royals signed RHP Junior Fernández to a minor league contract.

The Royals didn’t say if Fernández was going to get an invitation to spring training, but that’s a relatively small detail. The right-hander signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, but he appeared in just two games in the NPB. Once considered among the better relief prospects in baseball, Fernández will need to pitch exceptionally well this spring to be anything more than depth for Kansas City in 2025.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/junior-fernandez/49847

[Padres]

The Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced that they have re-signed right-hander Drew VerHagen to a one-year contract.

The 34-year-old hurler signed on with the Ham Fighters prior to the 2024 campaign and went on to post a 3.09 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and an 82/22 K/BB ratio over 96 innings in his 20 appearances. He then declined his player option and explored the open market before deciding that a return there was in his best interests.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/drew-verhagen/48247

[Padres]

Trey Wingenter has signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Wingenter will take his talents overseas after being non-tendered a couple weeks ago by the Cubs. The hard-throwing 30-year-old righty reliever has made 97 appearances in the big leagues dating back to 2018.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/trey-wingenter/48178

[Padres]

Tyler Nevin has signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Nevin got into a career-high 87 contests this past season for the Athletics, batting .204/.288/.331 with seven homers and one steal in 278 plate appearances. The 27-year-old first baseman hasn’t hit for enough power at the highest level to warrant consideration for an everyday opportunity, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he wound up excelling overseas in Japan’s hitter-friendly environment.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/tyler-nevin/48633

[Padres]

Edward Olivares has signed with the Orix Buffaloes of the Korea Baseball Organization.

Olivares was officially released by the Mets earlier this week to pursue the overseas opportunity after signing a minor league contract last month with New York. The 28-year-old struggled to a .624 OPS with five homers and one steal in 55 games last year for the Pirates. He’ll attempt to turn his career around and rebuild his long-term value over in Korea.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/edward-olivares/48615

[Padres]

Trevor Bauer is returning to Japan for the 2025 season, signing with the Yokohama DeNA Baystars.

It’s the same team Bauer pitched for in 2023 before he spent 2024 in Mexico. The 34-year-old right-hander last pitched in the majors for the Dodgers in 2021. He was then suspended for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, though he’s been eligible to pitch for major league teams since 2023.

https://www.nbcsports.com/trevor-bauer/ ... fd8025024b

[Padres]

Yunior Marte has signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Marte signed a minor league contract with the Mariners back in November but will head overseas in favor of a more lucrative opportunity. The 30-year-old righty made 23 relief appearances last year for the Phillies and holds a pedestrian 5.64 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 105/54 K/BB ratio across 113 1/3 innings (102 appearances) in the big leagues since 2022. He’ll attempt to rebuild his long-term value overseas in Japan.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/yunior-marte/48764

[Padres]

Pedro Avila has signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Avila heads overseas in an effort to bolster his long-term value after being removed last month from Cleveland’s 40-man roster. The 28-year-old righty was a durable workhorse last year for the Guardians, compiling a respectable 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 73/30 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings (50 appearances). It’s possible he’ll convert back to a starting role overseas in Japan.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/pedro-avila/49421

[Padres]

Ari Alexander of KRPC reports that Andrew Vasquez has agreed to terms with Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League.

The deal comes with a $0 buyout for a potential MLB team. The 31-year-old spent 2024 with the Tigers in Triple-A Toledo, and he’s made 64 MLB appearances. A good showing in Mexico could see teams showing interest in Vasquez as a depth piece by the end of 2025.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/andrew-vasquez/48255

[Padres]

Josimar Cousin signed a one-year deal with the Bravos de Lion of the Mexican League.

Cousin is a former member of the White Sox organization who elected free agency after the 2024 season. The 27-year-old will get a chance to show his stuff in Mexico, and a good showing could lead to more interest in the 2025 offseason.

https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/josimar-cousin/242188