New Gaijin

The Devil Rays released Reyes on his request in order to seek employment somewhere else.

The Devil Rays are right now in the process of selling the contract of Dicky Gonzalez to the Yakult Swallows.

- The Devil Rays are right now in the process of selling the contract of Dicky Gonzalez to the Yakult Swallows.

That's news to this Jingu Bleacher Bum. I know that management is unhappy with the way Billy Martin has been playing, and that they were looking for a replacement, but this is the first I've heard of this. The last I heard, the Swallows were in the process of acquiring Ricardo Rodriguez. [Rodriguez' Profile at Baseball-Reference.com]

Well, Dicky Gonzalez was sold to the Swallows on the 4th.

Also, Brad Voyles appears on his way to Japan.

The Hawks have reached an agreement to officialy acquire P Brad Voyles. [Link - JapanToday.com]

Isn't there also another American pitcher on his way to the Hawks? Anyone know who that is and when either of them will be in Fukuoka?

I just read an article over on Yahoo Japan that said the Nippon Ham Fighters are apparantly looking at a 19 year old Olympic representative from the Brazil team, but I can't seem to figure out the English spelling of his name from the Japanese katakana. Anybody help me out here?

My guess is Chiago Philipe Da Silva?

The Japanese katakana is chi-a-go fe-ri-pe da shi-ru-ba.

His name is Tiago Felipe da Silva.

Brazilian fans would like to find more news about him. Could you please help us?

Our best regards,

Brazil

Andre Luis:

Thanks for spelling his name out for me. I haven't heard whether or not Tiago passed the test for the Nippon Ham Fighters yet, but the club said that they would announce it. The team's Unification Headquarters chief, Mr. Misawa, said that if he did pass, Tiago was still young so they'd like to raise him slowly over the course of a couple of years. All reports I have seen indicated he took a test to enter the club on June 4 and 5 in the team's home stadium, Sapporo Dome.

(Source: SanSpo.com)

A local journal reported Tiago da Silva returned home on June 15; he didn't sign with the Fighters. The report says he fell a victim to some lies. Someone called the Fighters' Headquarters, bringing them false news about his behavior and habits. Perhaps a frustated "agent."

All Brazilians are very, very upset. Everyone is proud of him. He defended the Brazilian team three times in 2003: Cuba World Cup, Olympic Qualifiyng in Panama, and also in 17-18 yaears old Pan-American Championship. He also received the "2001 Ballplayer of the Year" award from COB - Brazilian Olympic Committee.

His former coach and club directors reported will try to elucidate these facts.

Thanks.

Reyes signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals.

Okay, now I'm a little confused. I just read an article over on Yahoo Japan that had almost the same situation for Dicky Gonzalez, as they gave for Ricardo Rodriguez almost 1 week ago. Both articles stated that the players would be coming to Japan without a proper work visa, and would only practice with the team until the paperwork was processed (about 2 weeks), and then that player would fly to Guam to get the work visa.

I don't know which to believe, the FOX Sports article I found stating he was sold to Yakult with the Yahoo Japan article today, or the Yahoo Japan article last week saying it was Ricardo Rodriguez? Can anybody straighten this little mess out?

AFAIK, no mention of Rodriguez has been made in the Japanese sports press as joining the Swallows. However, Gonzales should join them in a few days.

I haven't seen any mention of Reyes, yet, either. In fact, according to what I read, the Gonzales acquisition will be the final one the Swallows make this season.

Thanks for the replies guys. On the train home last night peeking over peoples shoulders reading sports newspapers, and through more net articles this morning, it is definitely Dicky Gonzalez. I wonder where Yahoo Japan (can't remember which sports magazine they pulled the article from) pulled out the name Ricardo Rodriguez, unless somebody in the Yakult organization gave the reporter a false name for the purpose of secrecy.

The next new gaijin should be an 18 year old Taiwanese college student for Chunichi (again, if I can believe what I read on Yahoo! Japan). I believe his name is Chen Wein (sp?) and is scheduled to start against the Giants tonight in Nagoya.

Dicky Gonzalez is with the Swallows. [Link Herald-Sun.com]

Ricardo Rodriguez is still with the Rangers.

I do want to apologize with the error which Al Reyes did not end up in Japan.

Herald-Sun? Haha, that's my hometown's newspaper. You must done a lot of Google searching to find that one.

Also, the Buffaloes announced the signing of outfielder Mario Valdez, the former Athletic and White Sox. [Link - Daily Yomiuri]

Mario Valdez was having a good season for the Monterrey Sultans of the Mexican League for the first time. Before leaving them, he posted a solid .291 avg. with 15 HR, and 41 RBI in 60 games. He also plays winter ball as part of the Culiacan Tomato Growers team, a tean that has won the Caribbean series 3 times.

He will need to adapt to Nippon Baseball, and has the tools to become a good player over there. We wish him luck.

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp signed a 24 year old pitcher by the name of Juan Feliciano.

The Yokohama BayStars signed a 26 year old right hander by the name of Cedrick Bowers. He has spent seven years in the minor leagues and will likely be used as a starter. Scott Mullen is the only foreigner that has pitched well (3.71 ERA, 65.1 IP). Since Eddie Gaillard is injured, Bowers will join Pete Walker (6.79 ERA, 46.1 IP) and Mullen in the starting rotation. However, he could be in the bullpen as well.

Meanwhile, Tyrone Woods is hitting the ball very well in his second year of Japanese baseball. He has a .328 average with 18 home runs and 44 RBIs so far. Last year he was .273 with 40 home runs and 87 RBIs.

- The Hiroshima Toyo Carp signed a 24 year old pitcher by the name of Juan Feliciano.

To my knowledge from watching him pitch in last night's game against the Giants, Juan Feliciano was with the club from the beginning of the season, but was starting for the farm team. If I heard right, he was brought up because starter Tom Davey was put on the DL and went back to America to get a checkup on his right shoulder.

FYI, Cedrick Bowers is a left handed pitcher who can either start or relieve. I watched him play for the past 4 seasons as a member of the Durham Bulls. He never pitched too spetacular or poorly, and never got a chance to get called up to the big leagues. He signed a free agent deal with the Marlins, but was released after ST.

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp are looking to sign left hander Mark Watson in a bid to strengthen their bullpen with both Chris Brock and Tom Davey in the United States nursing injuries.

The 30 year old Watson has played in three major league season with three teams - the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. He is 1-1 with a 11.25 ERA in 11 games (12.0 innings) in the bigs.

This year with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, Watson is 1-0 with one save and a 4.71 ERA in 23 games (21.0 innings). He has walked 10 batters and struck out 17.

Yes, Watson is close to signing with the Carp. [Link - Yomiuri On-Line in Japanese]

Also it states in the Courier Journal, that Watson is on Louisville's temporary inactive list. [Link]

The Royals have sold the contract of pitcher Brad Voyles to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

The Tigers are about to sign pitcher Rodney Myers. [Link - The Japan Times]

Hanshin has acquired P Rodney Myers. [LinkLink - The Japan Times]

What's up with all these players returning to Japanese baseball? First, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters aquired Fernando Seguignol, and now they will reaquired outfielder Sherman Obando. Remember him?

Obando played for these very same Fighters from 1999-2002 and posted a .293 batting average with 91 home runs and 282 RBIs in 371 games. His best season was in 2000 when he smacked 30 dingers, drove in 101 runs, and batted .332 in 107 games. After his release, Obando played in the Mexican League with Cerveza Atlas Tiburones where he hit .261 with no home runs and four RBIs in 14 games. Then he played with the Panama national baseball team.

This time around, Obando is on a one-year contract worth approxmiately 10 million yen.

The Reds have sold the contract of pitcher Mark Watson to the Carp.