Cubs Close to Signing Japanese Pitcher

i sure hope mthis is not the pitcher hendry was looking for
if it is someone to keep fukadome company with in spring training
then ok, i would hope were looking at bigger names though

"make sure at least one of them is fixed as well"

Fuki needs to be a different kind of "fixed" by the time the regular season starts.

Takahashi: "It looks like teammate Hiroki Kuroda inspired this: ”I’m interested in seeing what American baseball is like. The image of Kuroda has had a big impact."
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...couldn't they just put a picture of Kuroda and Takahashi in Carp uniforms on Fukudome's locker, it'd be less expensive and he could still talk to it.

Hey, he's 39...So was Jack Benny.

Muskrat picks up the same story...

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090111&c...

Muskat did add this little tidbit...

Cubs have considered adding a Japanese batting coach to help Fukudome make the adjustment.

(Gerald Perry was seen downloading a new version of the Rosetta Stone software)

I wouldn't have a problem with this idea if Hendry hadn't already wasted $1.1MM on Cotts. You want two lefties in the bullpen. So if Marshall is in the rotation, then fine. But by all accounts, Hendry still wants a veteran for that #5 rotation spot and keep Marshall as his utility pitcher. So hard to see where there's room for both Cotts and a play buddy for Fukkake.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since Cotts was re-signed, he cannot be traded until June 15, is that so?

Unless the other shoe falls in the form of some kind of trade, I'm not understanding these minor moves by Hendry. Gathright, Miles, now Takahashi all seem like inferior versions of what we already have.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 12:22am.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since Cotts was re-signed, he cannot be traded until June 15, is that so?

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JIM H: Only Article XX MLB free-agents who sign a Major League contract after the conclusion of the 15-day Free-Agency Filing Period get an automatic "no trade" through June 15th (and that's even if the player re-signs with his old club).

So Milton Bradley gets one, and so do Kerry Wood (with CLE) and Bob Howry (with SF), but Aaron Miles and Joey Gathright (who became free-agents after being non-tendered on 12/12) do not get one.

Likewise, if the Cubs sign a Japanese FA, he doesn't get an automatic "no trade," either.

Well, the Braves signed Fukudome's former teammate Kawakami. I wonder if he was seriously considered by Hendry. He was one of the elite Japanese pitchers, apparently.

Didn't the Cubs try the "buddy" thing last year when they brought in the former White Sox rag-arm/side arm pitcher?

Hendry almost has enough assets to make two deals, one for Peavy and another for Roberts.

(ducks)

Soto
Zambrano
Marshall
Theriot
Fontenot-from Baltimore, still played in the Cubs organization for a couple seasons before sticking in MLB
Marmol
Samardzija
Cedeno

Well, I put this story up last November...

... "'I got a call from my agent. I can say that more than one club has made me offers,' said Takahashi, who holds a 66-87 record with five saves and a 4.23 ERA in 14 seasons—all with the Hiroshima Carp. He was 8-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 21 games, including 20 starts, in 2008. According to baseball sources, the CHICAGO CUBS, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets are among the major league clubs that appear interested in acquiring Takahashi."

Jumbo, your well thought out criticism is appreciated.

Cedeno, brain cramps and all,has been a starter/backup the last 3 seasons, providing at least some value.

Hendry had suggested earlier this offseason that he would still be adding some "live arms" to the pitching staff.

At 39, Takahashi's arm may still be alive, but possibly on life support.

What....Rick Honeycutt's agent didn't return a call?