NEWSWORTHY
Giants go on offseason flurry in effort to revive glory days
The Yomiuri Giants are often referred to as Japan's answer to the New York Yankees — the "Evil Empire" version of the Bronx Bombers anyway — and the offseason they've had makes it easy to see why. After finishing a fourth straight season without winning ...
Former Seattle Mariners and now-Yomiuri Giants right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma said Tuesday he hopes Yusei Kikuchi will make his mark on the majors when he joins the American League club. "I think you have chosen to join an amazing team," Iwakuma posted on Instagram. "I hope ...
Carp take Giants outfielder Hisayoshi Chono as free agent compensation
The Yomiuri Giants announced Monday they will send veteran outfielder Hisayoshi Chono to the Hiroshima Carp as part of the compensation package for the Tokyo-based team's signing of free agent slugger Yoshihiro Maru. The Carp, winners of the last three Central League pennants, selected the ...
Giants, veteran reliever Ryan Cook agree to terms of $1.3 million deal
The Yomiuri Giants have reached an agreement to acquire former major league pitcher Ryan Cook, the team announced on Saturday. The 31-year-old Cook, who played this year with the Seattle Mariners, agreed to terms worth an estimated $1.3 million (about ¥140 million). The right-hander debuted with ...
Giants experience downside of NPB free agency as Tetsuya Utsumi departs
The images late last week of lefty pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi posing for photos wearing a white Seibu Lions uniform over his dress shirt — he wore a blue tie for effect — might've been a bit jarring for Yomiuri Giants fans. Other fanbases, like those ...
Pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi to join Lions as compensation for Giants' signing of Ginjiro Sumitani
The Yomiuri Giants announced Thursday they will send veteran left-hander Tetsuya Utsumi to the Seibu Lions in compensation for their recent acquisition of free agent catcher Ginjiro Sumitani. The 36-year-old Utsumi joined the Giants from the Tokyo Gas corporate league team in 2004 and was ...
Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano equals largest reported deal for Japanese player
Pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano signed a ¥650 million contract Monday, equaling Nippon Professional Baseball's highest reported deal for a Japanese player. The 29-year-old's one-year deal, worth approximately $5.7 million, matches the salary paid to reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2004 and 2005 after his return from the ...
Former Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to join Yomiuri Giants
The Yomiuri Giants announced Thursday they have reached an agreement to acquire former major league pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma for next season. Iwakuma left the Seattle Mariners organization after this past season in order to continue his playing career in Japan. The 37-year-old spent the entire ...
Central League MVP Yoshihiro Maru has decided to exercise his domestic free agent option and sign with the Yomiuri Giants, sources said Friday. The biggest name in the offseason free agent market, Maru on Tuesday was named CL MVP for the second straight year after ...
Veteran catcher Ginjiro Sumitani on verge of signing with Giants
Veteran catcher Ginjiro Sumitani, who filed for international free agency after 13 years with the Seibu Lions, said Saturday he will join the Yomiuri Giants. "I wanted to take my chances once more. I want to grow to become a bigger baseball player in a ...
Yomiuri acquires former Padres infielder Christian Villanueva
The Yomiuri Giants said Wednesday they have signed Mexican-born infielder Christian Villanueva, who played for the San Diego Padres this past season. The 27-year-old Villanueva made his major league debut in 2017 and hit .236 with 20 homers and 46 RBIs in 110 games as ...
Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano was named winner of the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award on Monday for the second straight year. The 29-year-old is the first pitcher to win the award in consecutive seasons since former Giants ace and Hall of Fame inductee Masaki Saito ...
