First post of the new year is about... more pitchers signing with NPB teams.
- The Orix Buffaloes have acquired Cardinals lefty Evan MacLane, citing a need for a lefthanded rotation candidate. I noted the Buffaloes' lack of lefty options when I looked at their group of starters last week. I had MacLane on my list of foreign player candidates last year, on a tip from a Cardinals blogger.
- Yakult is working on bringing back Tony Barnette, who they had released earlier in the offseason following a rough year in Yoyogi.
- This last item is a little on the old side, but Softbank is bringing back DJ Houlton, who like Barnette was released after a difficult season. Houlton is taking a 50% pay cut to 50 million yen (about $600k).
