The NPB last week posted the rosters for each of the 12 Central and Pacific League teams, indicating which players remain on the register for 2017 and those who have been released and are under jiyu keiyaku, or free contract status.
As usual, there were a few surprises. Among foreign players, Japan veterans Tony Blanco, Mauro Gomez and Hector Luna have been let go by their respective clubs. All three were among league leaders in various batting categories in recent years but, unless they get re-signed or picked up by another club, their careers here will have come to an end.
Blanco, still only 35, played eight years with three clubs, the Chunichi Dragons, Yokohama BayStars and Orix Buffaloes. He led the CL with 39 home runs and 110 RBIs his first season in Japan with Chunichi in 2009. As late as 2013, he had his best season, winning a batting title (.333) and another RBI crown (136) while with Yokohama.