From April 3:

Hitters

Pitchers

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The Cleveland Indians re-signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league.  From MLB.com's Jordan Bastian:

The Indians' goal of keeping Daisuke Matsuzaka and Matt Capps came to fruition Tuesday, when the club signed both pitchers to Minor League contracts. The right-handers will remain in Major League camp through Saturday.

Cleveland initially signed Matsuzaka and Capps to Minor League contracts this offseason, but released the pitchers earlier this week after informing them that they would not make the Opening Day roster. By releasing and re-signing the players, the Indians avoid paying them each a $100,000 retention bonus.

... "Dice-K, I tried to remind him of this yesterday," Indians manager Terry Francona said on Tuesday. "He's two years removed now from Tommy John. There's no reason he can't be the Dice-K that won 18 games. He just needs some repitition and some confidence, and he's got to remember who he is. I know when he used to take the ball and take the mound, he always felt like he was going to win. He needs to get that back."

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Hiroyuki Nakajima hurt his left hamstring.  From MLB.com Jane Lee:

... Just hours after announcing that Adam Rosales would start the season on the disabled list, the A's watched shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima exit the 10th inning of a road game against the Indians with a left hamstring strain. He's considered day to day.

... Nakajima suffered the injury while running from first to second on a sacrifice bunt, just minutes after he had found his way out of a 0-for-20 slump with a base hit. He motioned for a trainer and walked off the field with a slight limp under his own power, ultimately deferring questions from the media before getting on the team bus.

... Healthy or not, Nakajima still has work to do.

"He was working on some stuff in batting practice today, trying to use his back side and get his legs more involved," Melvin said. "He had a good BP today and took a good swing on that one there in the 10th, so maybe he's making progress, finding something that's working for him."

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Tsuyoshi Wada threw sixty pitches in the bullpen on Monday (fastballs plus change-ups).  He told reporters that he did not feel any discomfort or pain in his left elbow.  If things continue to progress smoothly, he could pitch in a rehab game in April, opening up the possibility of a return to the MLB roster in May or June.

Source: Sponichi 3/27/2013

Daisuke Matsuzaka was released by the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

The Plain Dealers' Paul Hoynes also tweeted the following:

#Indians release Dice-K from current contract. It's believed they're renegotiating a new one with him to keep him in organization. [link]

By releasing Dice-K now, #Indians don't have to pay him $100,000 retention bonus Tues, while renegotiating his deal.  [link]

Source: official Tweet

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An undisclosed number of teams showed interest in Yoshinori Tateyama, but he ultimately decided to re-sign with the Rangers because the other offers were not that good.

Source: Sponichi 3/25/2013

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YUniverse T-shirts and K cards will be handed out to fans sitting in the Yu Darvish cheering section during home games.

Source: Star-Telegram, official annoucement

The Cleveland Indians signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league deal.  A snip from the Boston Globe:

Takahiro Matsuka continues his workouts in the US in hopes of finding a US team to play for this year.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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According to Daily Sports, the New York Mets do not have any plans to sit down with Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Source: Daily Sports 2/6/2013

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Koji Uehara left for the US on Tuesday.  Before leaving, he spoke to reporters and said, "It would be great if I could throw a slider.  I have been trying one out since last year.  If I can get it to work, then I will use it during the season."

He also said, "I spoke to [Junichi Tazawa].  If you ask me, I would like to see him start.  He is still young and I think he can do it.  As for me [starting], I would throw seventy pitches and then require ten days of rest, which would be impossible."

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Hideki Matsui reportedly turned down an invite by the Yankees to be a guest instructor during spring training because his wife is pregnant.

Source: Bryan Hoch Twitter via Nikkan Sports 2/6/2013

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Orix Bank announced that Ichiro Suzuki will be appearing in their TV commercials for the Kanto/Kansai regions.  Ichiro has been appearing in various advertisements for Orix Group since 2011.  This will be his first TV spot for Orix Bank.

Source: Daily Sports 2/6/2013

Koji Uehara tossed his first bullpen of the year on Thursday: fifty-five pitches.  After workouts, he spoke to reporters and said that he threw fifty-five pitches in hopes of Hideki Matsui making a comeback.  Source: Nikkan Sports 1/25/2013

Matsui attended Joe Torre's Safe at Home Foundation Gala in New York City on Thursday.  Source: MLB.com 1/24/2013

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Hisanobu Takahashi closed out his workouts in Hawaii on the 23rd.  Source: blog post, Sponichi 1/25/2013

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The Seattle Mariners are apparently looking into Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Source: Sponichi 1/25/2013

Interesting Daisuke Matsuzaka headlines from January 17.

• Matsuzaka decides...  DeNA over minor league contract (Sanspo)
• Matsuzaka narrows down choices!  Down to three: Indians, Marlins, Mets! (Sports Hochi)
• A slim Matsuzaka takes off...  Narrows option to one: MLB (Nikkan Sports)
• Matsuzaka to the US / Weight notes (Nikkan Sports)
• Matsuzaka, Direct flight to Boston canceled...Sudden change of plans, stop-over in New York (Sanspo)

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Quotes:

"If I was thinking about coming back to Japan when I first decided to go to the Majors, I would have kept my house [in Japan].  I was not thinking about that when I left.  I now see just how lucky I was.  I think this actually might be good for me."  Sponichi 1/17/2013

"I am very thankful [for the offers from NPB teams], but I think I would like to play in the Majors.  I still have a month before [spring training] and I have left it all up to my agent.  I am in no rush.  All I can do is believe and wait."  Sponichi 1/17/2013

Via Nikkan Sports, Tsuyoshi Wada is reportedly making good progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.  From MASN's Roch Kubatko:

You can include Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada in the rotation mix if he's fully recovered from last May's Tommy John surgery. We were told at the Winter Meetings that he's ahead of schedule.

Wada also posted the following update at his blog on the 29th:

It has been a while.

I was in Japan for three weeks, but now I am back in the America.

Next year will be very important for me.  I have no time to rest.  I hope to begin my rehab again tomorrow.

It was nice to be back in Japan.  During my three weeks, acquaintances and friends warmly cheered me on.

I will do my best so that I can return next year in a more dignified manor.

I wish everyone a great New Year.

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A number of teams have expressed an interested in Daisuke Matsuzaka this winter, but none have apparently offered enough to sign him.  A return to Japan cannot be ruled out entirely.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/31/2012

And from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:

Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP, free agent - He prefers to stay in the US, but Japan may not be out of the question, depending on what type of deal he gets. He prefers San Diego, but so far there's no indication that the feeling is mutual.

Ichiro Suzuki is finalizing a deal with the New York Yankees.  From CBS Sports' Jon Heyman:

The Yankees and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki are finializing a deal that will keep the Japanese star with the club at least for the 2013 season and possibly 2014.

The framework is for one year, one year plus vesting or possibly two seasons. Ichiro hit .322 for the Yankees, and don't discount that he has 2,606 hits, putting him within striking distance of becoming the first Japanese player to have 3,000 hits.

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The media learned on Tuesday that Hiroyuki Nakajima is back in the US, this time to train and meet interested teams.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/12/2012

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Daisuke Matsuzaka tweeted on Monday that he was back in Japan.

A number of teams NPB teams, including the Softbank Hawks and Yokohama Bay Stars, have expressed an interest in Matsuzaka, but Scott Boras told reporters on Monday that his client is only thinking about playing in the Majors.  Source: Sponichi 12/12/2012

The Philadelphia Phillies may have interest in Ichiro Suzuki.  From CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury:

Ichiro Suzuki is another outfielder worth watching. In fact, sources say there has been communication between his camp and Phillies officials. It’s unclear if the Phils have actual interest or whether Suzuki’s side reached out to the Phils.

If Ichiro returns to the New York Yankees, it may be in a platoon role in right.  Source: Sanspo 12/6/2012

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The Houston Astros see Hideki Matsui as a possible DH candidate.  From the SFGate.com:

Porter confirmed Houston is considering Hideki Matsui for the new DH role, which the Astros didn't need in the NL.

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Kyuji Fujikawa arrived in Chicago on the 4th.  The Cubs have reportedly set aside the number eleven for Fujikawa.  Source: Sanspo 12/6/2012

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A number of teams, including the Padres, are reportedly interested in Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Source: Sanspo 12/6/2012

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Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington called Koji Uehara on the 4th and spoke to him for about ten minutes.  Twelve teams, including the Orioles, Brewers, and Red Sox, are reportedly interested in Uehara.  Source: Sponichi 12/6/2012, Nikkan Sports 12/6/2012

Rangers are also interested in Yoshinori Tateyama.  From ESPN's Richard Durrett:

Daniels said he's talked with Yoshi Tateyama's agent and that the club has some interest in bringing him back. He's also checked in with Koji Uehara, who continues to see what kind of market is available for him.