Baseball

Atlanta – Phil Niekro threw a pitch that baffled hitters and catchers. Heck, he didn’t even know where it was going most of the time. But the knuckleball carried Niekro to more than 300 wins, earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame and left him with a […]

Arlington, Texas – The Texas Rangers have signed Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara to a $6.2 million, two-year contract. The right-hander gets $3.6 million in 2021 and $2.6 million in 2022 and can earn $50,000 in performance bonuses each year. He spent six years with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of […]

Fukuoka – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ace Kodai Senga said Saturday his desire to move to the majors is unchanged, but he’s no closer to going overseas via the posting system following a reported ¥100 million ($967,000) raise from the Pacific League club. The 27-year-old led the PL in ERA, wins […]

Los Angeles – Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Kohei Arihara has reached an agreement to join the Texas Rangers on a two-year contract in the $6 to $7.5 million range, Major League Baseball’s official site reported Friday. The 28-year-old right-hander had been seeking a move to the majors via the […]

The DeNA BayStars have acquired former Minnesota Twins right-hander Fernando Romero on a one-year deal worth a reported ¥75 million ($724,000), with a team option for a second year, the Central League club said Thursday. A native of the Dominican Republic, Romero spent two years in the major leagues from […]

Fukuoka – Fukuoka Softbank Hawks outfielder Yuki Yanagita, who won his second Pacific League MVP award last week, signed a contract worth ¥610 million ($5.9 million) plus incentives for next season on Wednesday. The deal, a ¥40 million increase from his last salary, equals Hideki Matsui’s salary with the Yomiuri […]

Fukuoka – Fukuoka Softbank Hawks outfielder Yuki Yanagita, who won his second Pacific League MVP award last week, signed a contract worth ¥610 million ($5.9 million) plus incentives for next season on Wednesday. The deal, a ¥40 million increase from his last salary, equals Hideki Matsui’s salary with the Yomiuri […]

Philadelphia – Sam Fuld went from interviewing to become Boston’s manager to general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Fuld was promoted to GM on Tuesday, filling the role previously held by Matt Klentak. The team also promoted Jorge Velandia to assistant general manager and Terry Ryan to special assistant to […]

Former Yomiuri Giants great Warren Cromartie won’t be returning to the team as an adviser for the 2021 season, he announced on Tuesday. “It was a great opportunity to get back in a Giants uniform,” Cromartie told The Japan Times. “I wish them the best of luck for 2021 and […]

Washington – Howie Kendrick is retiring after 15 major league seasons that included earning NLCS MVP honors during the Washington Nationals’ 2019 World Series run. Kendrick announced his retirement Monday night on Instagram, saying he’s “forever grateful for the many life lessons” learned over 32 years in baseball since beginning […]