Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed a ten-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday (Wednesday in Japan).  It was his third since his surgery.

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Takashi Saito left for the US from Narita Airport on Wednesday.  Saito will spend some time working out in Los Angeles before heading to Scottsdale, AZ for Spring Training.

Saito turns 42 on February 14.

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Munenori Kawasaki and his wife left for the US on Wednesday.

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Hideki Matsui visited the Komatsu plants in Ibaraki and Fukushima on Wednesday.  Matsui told reporters that he was still not worried about not having a team to play for and that he would be fine so long as he got a deal done in time for the start of Spring Training.  He also said there was nothing he could do if he ended up missing a portion of Spring Training.

Matsui is a spokesperson for Komatsu.  Komatsu has been buying ad space in right since Matsui played for the New York Yankees.  They want to keep the tradition going and plan to sit down with whichever team signs him.

Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed his second bullpen session on February 3 (February 4 in Japan) -- twenty pitches to a catcher that squatted in front of the home plate.

"While I threw at about 70% last time, this time I tried to throw as hard as I could.  I am glad that I was able to throw at close to 90%," said Matsuzaka.  "A part of me is still holding back.  I want to continue examining my mechanics moving forward."

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Via Sponichi: Koji Uehara posted a blog update informing fans that he tossed around 40 pitches (fastballs) in his first bullpen session of the year.

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Tsuyoshi Wada left for Hawaii out of Haneda Airport on Sunday.  Wada plans to spend a week working out in Hawaii before heading to Baltimore to find a place to live.  He will then head down to Sarasota, Florida sometime around February 15 to prepare for the start of Spring Training.

Wada is currently at about 60-70% and is hoping to toss a bullpen session during his workouts in Hawaii (he has not yet tossed a session this year).

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Hiroki Sanada left for the US out of Narita Airport on Saturday.  He is scheduled to meet up with Hisanori Takahashi in Los Angeles and will attend tryouts over a three day period beginning on February 10.  Sanada has tossed four bullpen sessions in Japan, since his return from Hawaii on January 26.

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Hisashi Iwakuma, Wei-Ying Chen, and Norichika Aoki made it into USA Today's Countdown of the 100 Names You Need to Know: Nos. 41-60.  A snip:

50. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners, 30: He couldn't reach a contract last year after Oakland won posting rights and this year he arrives as a free agent. In the meantime, he dealt with some shoulder issues that reduced his fastball to the 90 mph range. But he uses the fastball to make an exceptional forkball more effective. He should be a solid ground-ball pitcher in a ballpark that will be forgiving if and when major league hitters zone in on the fastball.

53. OF Norichika Aoki, Brewers, 30: Signing a two-year contract all but ensures the three-time batting champion in Japan is at least Milwaukee's fourth outfielder. And he would get a quick and extended opportunity to increase his role if Ryan Braun is suspended at the start of the season. Aoki is a strong defender and had an on-base percentage over .400 four of the past five seasons. He's a line-drive hitter but less of a slashing swinger than Ichiro Suzuki.

55. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles, 26: He's younger and throws harder (92-94 mph) than most pitchers coming out of the Japanese leagues. Plus, he has a sharp slider that should be effective. After Jeremy Guthrie, the Baltimore rotation is wide open. Chen and Tsuyoshi Wada should have an edge over the Orioles' collection of promising young pitchers, most of whom struggled last year.

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The Texas Rangers' tweeted that Yu Darvish merchandise is now available:

Darvish gear is here! Get it b4 the 1st shipment is gone. Rangers Team Shop Locations: http://atmlb.com/oawrO0 Or Online: http://atmlb.com/zcWfQ2

Hideki Matsui worked out for about two hours on Thursday.  During soft toss BP, he took 40 from the right and 160 swings from the left.  He also used his new 2012 model bat -- it has a grip that is about one millimeter thinner than before.

And Sponichi seems to think that the Baltimore Orioles will be strong suitors for Matsui.  They also mention other teams like the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka did long throws at a distance of about 50 meters on Wednesday.  Matsuzaka tossed his first bullpen session in about eight months on January 30.  His next session will like take place on February 3.

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Sponichi is reporting that Hiroki Sanada will be getting a tryout in the US.  Not much else is known, other than that he will be leaving for US the on Saturday and will continue his workouts with Hisanori Takahashi for a few days before the tryout.

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Hideki Okajima returned from Australia (Gold Coast) on Thursday and told reporters that he will approach the season as if it were his very last.  Okajima has already tossed two 100+ pitch bullpen sessions.  He will head to the US after spending a few days in Japan.

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Sponichi notes the Texas Ragners' signing of Don Kalkstein, sports psychologist.

A day after tossing his first bullpen session since May 2011, Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch at a distance of about 20 meters on Tuesday and told reporters his elbow did not feel especially tight and that there were no problems.  Matsuzaka is scheduled to toss another bullpen session on February 3.

Matuzaka also decided to get a new hairstyle to mix things up a bit -- his stylist apparently dropped by his hotel on January 22 and that is when he decided to get his first perm in about 10 years.

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Hideki Matsui worked outdoors on Tuesday for the first time in five days.  He finished out his practices by taking 102 swings during soft toss, a high for the current off-season.  Regarding any potential offers, Matsui said he still had not heard anything and that he was not considering a return to Japan.  When asked what he would do if he did not receive any offers from teams in the US, he replied, "I have not thought that far ahead."

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Sponichi notes that Munenori Kawasaki was assigned the number 61.

Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch at a max distance of about 30 meters on Monday.  He then tossed his first bullpen session since 5/16/2011 -- 11 pitches to a standing catcher, 10 pitches to a squatting catcher with a little something extra on the last two pitches he threw.  Assuming no problems on Tuesday, Matsuzaka could do long distance throwing on Wednesday and another bullpen session on Thursday.

Matsuzaka also visited Yoshihiro Doi (signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles) in Ft. Lauderdale and spent about two hours with him.

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Koji Uehara is planning to return to the US in early February.  On Monday, he played catch at a distance of about 60 meters.

"I am more or less ready to go," said Uehara.  "I plan to toss two to three bullpen sessions before heading to America."

When asked about the trade rumors, he replied, "If it is going to happen, I hope it happens quickly."

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Via Sponichi, The Daily News' Andy Martino reports that the New York Mets are interested in Kosuke Fukudome.  A snip:

... According to two team insiders, the club is looking for a veteran lefthanded bat for the bench, and is shopping in the aisle that includes Rick Ankiel, Kosuke Fukudome, Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon.

The latter two, while bigger names, appear less of a fit, because of a presumed desire for more at-bats and less defensive versatility. But Ankiel or Fukudome could provide Terry Collins with a lefty pinch-hitter, occasional platoon partner for Jason Bay and insurance against an injury to, or disappointing performance from, Bay, Lucas Duda or Andres Torres.

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Sponichi reports that KOMO News incorrectly pronounced Hisashi Iwakuma's name HIGH-SA-SHI, instead of HE-SA-SHI, during a recent news broadcast.

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Yu Darvish made Dayn Perry's "What you should watch for in 2012" list.

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Former Seibu Lion Tetsuya Iwasaki (29) left for the US on Monday to participate in the Arizona Winter League.  Iwasaki wants a chance to pitch in the Majors and is willing to sign a minor league deal.

MLB.com's Greg Johns reports that Eric Wedge is thinking about "non-leadoff options" for Ichiro Suzuki.  A snip:

Eric Wedge first brought up at the Winter Meetings in Dallas in early December the idea that Ichiro Suzuki might not be his leadoff hitter any longer, and the Mariners manager said Thursday he's now "further down the road in leaning that direction to have Ichi hit somewhere else."

Speaking at the Mariners pre-Spring Training media luncheon, Wedge expanded on his thoughts, saying Ichiro could bat second or third if he's not leading off. And he mentioned Dustin Ackley, Chone Figgins and perhaps a healthier Franklin Gutierrez as candidates to fill the leadoff role.

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The New York Yankees finalized their deal with Hiroki Kuroda.  He gets a one-year deal worth US$10M and can earn up to an additional US$1M in performance bonuses ($200,000 each for 160, 170, 180, 190, and 200 innings).

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When reporters asked Hideki Matsui to comment on the possibility of signing with a National League team, he replied, "I think I will ok.  Although I really do not know how things will go until I try."

On Thursday, Matsui took 116 swings, from both side of the plate, during soft toss BP.

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Koji Uehara posted an update on his blog about his workouts (long throws at about 90 meters on Wednesday and about five minutes of pitching, on flat ground, on Thursday) and his concerns about where he might be playing next year (he feels anxious).

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Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 21 pitches (all fastballs) on flat ground on Wednesday.

According to Sponichi and Nikkan Sports, Boston Red Sox rehab coordinator Chip Simpson told reporters that Daisuke Matsuzaka could toss a bullpen session some time next week.  Matsuzaka is able to play catch on flat ground at a max distance of about 50 meters with his partner squatting.  When he tosses a bullpen session will likely be determined after he begins mixing in off-speed pitches.

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Hideki Matsui has yet to receive an official offer.  Based on current team needs, Sponichi notes that if the New York Yankees do not sign Matsui, he will likely end up having to play in the National League.

When asked by reporters what he would do if offered a minor league contract, Matsui replied, "I will think about that when I need to cross the bridge.  Right now, I have not thought about it."

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TV Ratings for Yu Darvish's press conference: Sapporo TV - 11.6%; NHK - 10.4%; Hokkaido TV - 8.5%; all five channels combined - 89.5%.

Darvish also updated his blog with additional thoughts from his press conference.

Via Nikkan Sports, the Dallas Morning News' Gerry Fraley mentions that the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are interested in Koji Uehara.

ESPN's Richard Durrett adds that Uehara refused a trade to the Blue Jays (he has a limited six-team no-trade clause that includes Toronto).

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Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch on flat ground on Monday and threw the ball about 20 times with his throwing partner squatting.  This was the fourth time he had his partner squat during a game of catch since his surgery.  He is still scheduled to a toss a bullpen session some time before the end of the month.

Hideki Matsui spoke to reporters on Wednesday and said:

This is not something limited to just the New York Yankees, because it makes me happy anytime a team [says they are interested].  Although I am not really sure if they have contacted my agent. ... I would of course like to sign my Spring Training.  But there is still about a month to go.  I think it will fine.  I am not even worried."

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Via Nikkan Sports: NESN's Didier Morais provides the following update on Daisuke Matsuzaka:

As Valentine surveyed the area, he also found Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss the first half of the season. The two exchanged New Year's pleasantries -- in Japanese, of course -- but Valentine left encouraged by the visit.

"He's doing really well," Valentine said. "He had a good look in his eye."

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Nikkan Sports mentions that Norichika Aoki will hold a press conference in Japan on 1/20.  Sponichi adds that Aoki probably signed for about US$1.5M a year, or about half of what he made in 2011 (from 330M yen to 115.5M yen).  With incentives (based on the number of games he plays/starts), the two-year deal could be worth around US$5M (or 385M yen).

Aoki is the fifth Japanese player to join the Milwaukee Brewers' organization: Hideo Nomo (1999), Takahito Nomura (2002), Tomokazu Oka (2005-2006), and Takashi Saito (2011).

Aoki will begin working out in Okinawa next week.  And while the Brewers would like to introduce him at FanFest on 1/29, nothing has been finalized due to possible visa timing issues.

Hideki Matsui added soft toss BP to his workouts on Wednesday.  On Thursday, he started taking fielding practice -- while standing near the third base bag, he took 42 grounders and "committed two errors".  During BP, he saw a total 93 pitches from both sides of the plate.  And when asked if was worried about his contract status, he replied, "I do not check the headlines.  I am not worried at this point."

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Ryota Igarashi is hoping that the two things he worked on this winter (polishing his two-seamer and slider while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic and strengthening his upper body) help him make it to the Majors.

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Koji Uehara and Yoshinori Tateyama participated in a talk session with Daisuke Ohata (retired rugby player) in Tokyo on Thursday.  The three were in the same class when they attended Tokai Gyosei High School.

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The Nike SHA|DO line of baseball gear, used by Daisuke Matsuzaka, apparently went on sale Thursday.