A Happy New Year to all readers of the "Baseball Bullet-In."

While we were away for two weeks, the Yomiuri Giants sealed that deal with former Yakult Swallows outfielder Alex Ramirez, completing acquisition of a trio of high-profile foreign players who have left rival Kanto-area Central League teams.

The Kyojin previously signed closer Marc Kroon, late of the Yokohama BayStars, and starting pitcher Seth Greisinger, who led the CL with 16 wins in 2007 while with Yakult.