The World Baseball Classic is down to its elite eight and every game from here on out is single elimination. (Mark DeRosa, do not bench any stars.) Also, 17 Mets (including minor leaguers) were on WBC rosters at the outset and now a lucky seven still have a chance for a ring. Friday’s games Korea vs. Dominican Republic at loanDepot park in Miami, 6:30 p.m. ET on FS2 Korea is the only team...
Japanese first baseman Munetaka Murakami has reportedly signed with the Chicago White Sox. First reported by Japan’s MLB.com outlet, Murakami is signing for two years and $34 million. ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed that Murakami will be playing first base for the rebuilding White Sox. Murakami has put up sensational numbers in the Japanese league. Across eight NPB seasons he has...
Shohei Ohtani. Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Roki Sasaki. This isn’t just a list of Dodgers players, but recent marquee Japanese players who came over after playing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Before these players, there was never a real overseas class of players from Japan who might be posted during the offseason, until now. Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto headline a...
Colin Rea Position: SP B/T: R/R Age: 34 (07/1/1990) 2024 Traditional Stats: 32 G (27 GS), 167.2 IP, 12-6, 4.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 135 SO, 43 BB 2024 Advanced Stats: 98 ERA+, 18.9% SO%, 6.0% BB%, 4.87 xERA, 4.75 FIP, 4.42 xFIP, 0.9 fWAR, 1.2 bWAR Rundown Colin Rea, 34 years old, was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, coming out of Indiana State...
For a team whose name is derived from the residents of the location they inhabit, the Mets have had some notable moments away from America. This weekend will be the latest as they and the Philadelphia Phillies embark on the third regular season series to be played in London. Save for the many games in Montreal against the Expos plus several in Toronto, New York has previously played in two other...
Good morning, Mets fans! On Friday, it was announced that Roki Sasaki, the 22-year-old Japanese superstar pitcher, agreed to a contract with his current Pacific League team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, for the 2024 season. There have been rumors in the past that Sasaki was interested in being posted for MLB teams as soon as possible, but his current team might be interested in holding on to him...
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that both the New York Mets and the New York Yankees could be looking at Japanese starter Shōta Imanaga as a backup plan to missing out on fellow Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 25-year-old Yamamoto continued his free agency tour on Thursday by meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies. He previously met with the Yankees, Mets, San Francisco Giants,...
Good morning, Mets fans! On Friday, Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga officially got his posting request approved by the DeNA Baystars of Nippon Professional Baseball, meaning he will be allowed to sign with an MLB team this winter. The 30-year-old lefty has a career 2.96 ERA across eight seasons in Japan and figures to be in for a big pay day. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that he will sign a...
Good morning, Mets fans! The World Baseball Classic came to a close on Tuesday, and crowned Team Japan as they went on to beat the U.S. 3-2. The U.S. opened the second inning with a Trea Turner solos shot that went 405 feet. Japan then responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own. Munetaka Murakami answered with a solo shot of his own and Lars Nootbaar grounded into a...
It was a winner takes all night at Loan Depot Park in Miami as Mike Trout, Trea Turner, and the United States took on Shohei Ohtani of team Japan. Arizona Diamondbacks’ right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly who got the ball for the U.S. against Shoto Imanaga, the left-handed pitcher from Japan. The United States got off to an early lead, but two home runs by Japan were enough to give Japan the...
Mike Trout vs. Shohei Ohtani. That’s the billing of Tuesday night’s 2023 World Baseball Classic Final. The United States and Japan—two of the best teams throughout the whole tournament—face off for the WBC title. Japan made the final after winning a thrilling game against Mexico. Down 3-0, new Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida launched a three-run home run to tie the game in the...
It’s time for the semifinals. Team Mexico takes on Team Hapan at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida. Team Mexico defeated Team Puerto Rico in the fourth quarterfinal game 5-4. The Pool C winners hope to continue the trend against the undefeated Japanese team. Japan defeated Team Italy 9-3 in their quarterfinal game. Japan has yet to lose a game during the tournament going 4-0 in Pool B. Can...
