The Orix Buffaloes said Wednesday they have acquired the services of right-hander Brandon Dickson and outfielder Vinny Rottino on one-year contracts worth $350,000, plus performance-based incentives.
Dickson, 28, made four relief appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals this year. He was 0-0 with a 7.11 ERA over 6 1/3 innings. He went 5-11 with a 3.63 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Memphis. Orix is hoping to use Dickson in its starting rotation.
The versatile Rottino, who is not only an outfielder/infielder but also a catcher, caught for Italy at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. This year, he played in 36 games for the Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets.
Rottino, 32, will join WBC teammate Alessandro Maestri on the Buffaloes' roster.
"He (Rottino) is a gap hitter who gives his all to team play. He is a person of good character," said Yoshio Murayama, Orix's director of baseball operations.