1/29/2013: Hideki Okajima, Munenori Kawasaki, Kensuke Tanaka
by Gen on Jan.29, 2013 @ 3:45 pm, under MLB
The Oakland A's apparently have an interest in Hideki Okajima. From SFGate.com:
Multiple sources told The Chronicle that the A's are considering signing former Red Sox left-hander Hideki Okajima.
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Munenori Kawasaki made an appearance on KBC Kyushu's Asadesu on Monday and said he wanted another chance to play alongside Ichiro Suzuki. He is also taking English conversation classes twice a week.
Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2013
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Kensuke Tanaka held a press conference at the Nippon Ham Fighter offices in Sapporo on Monday. Tanaka signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He is slated to make a guaranteed US$40,000. If he gets called up to the Majors, a maximum US$750,000.
Tanaka turned down an offer for an interpreter because he wants to learn English. He is preparing himself to play any infield position and also plans to take an outfielder's glove with him just in case.
Tanaka will head to the US with former Nippon Ham trainer Naoki Shirozu.
Source: official announcement, Sponichi 1/29/2013, Sponichi 1/29/2013
Billy Beane oughta sign Munenori Kawasaki on a similar deal to that the Giants gave Keisuke Tanaka. That’d give Oakland a solid tandem defensively with Nakajima at short.