Chunichi Dragons

Kenta Asakura will likely return to the starting rotation next season.  Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 12/13/2012

Yakult Swallows

Masanori Ishikawa will be in the final year of a four-year deal.  Ishikawa has plans to work out with some of the younger pitchers, like Kyohei Muranaka and Katsuki Akagawa, in Saito, Miyazaki next month.  Source: NIkkan Sports 12/13/2012

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Kenichi Matsuoka is working on a shuto because the team could give him a look as a starter in 2013.  Source: Sanspo 12/13/2012

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Shingo Kawabata apparently signed his contract for 2013 on December 12, 2012 at 12:12pm.  Source: Sanspo 12/13/2012

Yomiuri Giants

Tatsunori Hara wants 1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano to stay within himself and refrain from trying too hard to impress others.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/13/2012

Hara does not want the media to continue using terms like "uncle" and "nephew" when discussing things about him or Sugano.

"Uncle, nephew, I do not want the media to use terms like that once the New Year begins.  The minute I see terms like uncle and nephew, I will shut my mouth," said Hara.  "I want people to see him for what he is.  He is just Sugano, another rookie."

He added, "He is Sugano, Tomoyuki Sugano of the Giants.  And [I am] Hara, manager of the Giants."

Source: Sponichi 12/13/2012

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About 190 people left for the team's championship trip to Hawaii on Wednesday.  That total includes team members, staff members, and family members.  Source: Sanspo 12/13/2012

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Toshiya Sugiuchi will most likely get to wear the number eighteen during the World Baseball Classic.  Uniform numbers for all WBC players will be released in January.  Source: Sponichi 12/13/2012

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Masami Kuwata will face Kazuhiro Kiyohara during a New Year's TV special called Kyokugen 2012.  The pre-recorded match-up took place at Seibu Dome.  The program will air on TBS (Japanese TV) and its affiliated stations on January 31 at 6:00pm.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/13/2012

Hanshin Tigers

Kentaro Sekimoto will be in the final year of a three-year deal.  Source: Sanspo 12/13/2012

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Ryo Watanabe will likely be used as a late-inning reliever/setup man next season (7th and 8th innings).  Source: Daily Sports 12/13/2012

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GM Katsuhiro Nakamura spoke to reporters on Wednesday and told them about the team's plans to make Yasutomo Kubo their closer next season.  Pitching coach Kiyooki Nakanishi has already spoken to Kubo.  Yutaka Wada is expected to confirm.  Nakamura will try to follow-up.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/13/2012, Sanspo 12/13/2012

The Tigers may be looking at foreign candidates in case Kubo fails.  Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 12/13/2012

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Tomoaki Kanemoto was a special surprise guest at a Keisuke Kuwata concert on Wednesday.  Source: Daily Sports 12/13/2012

Hiroshima Carp

The Carp could give Fred Lewis a look as their lead-off hitter next year.  Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 12/13/2012

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Kan Otake (29) is slated to earn his domestic FA option next year.  He could earn it as early as April 14.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/13/2012, Sports Hochi 12/13/2012

Yokohama Bay Stars

The Bay Stars will likely meet Kosuke Fukudome for "official" negotiations some time on or after December 17.  Meetings with Fukudome up to now have been "unofficial."  Source: Daily Sports 12/13/2012