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Enyelbert Soto could start the home opener on April 2 against Yomiuri because of his past successes against the team.

Source: Sponichi 2/15/2013, Daily Sports 2/15/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/15/2013

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Masaaki Koike was called up today to take Taketoshi Goto's spot at Ichi-gun camp.  Goto suffered a strain in the left side of his back during workouts on Wednesday.

Source: Daily Sports 2/15/2013

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2nd round draft pick Kazuki Mishima is scheduled to start a practice game against Nippon Ham on Saturday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/15/2013

The Yokohama Bay Stars announced today that they signed former Chunichi Dragon Enyelbert Soto (30).  He was also assigned the number sixty-one.  No other details are known at this time.

Source: official announcement, Sponichi 12/14/2012

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UPDATE @ 5:15pm - According to Sports Hochi, Soto signed a two-year deal that will pay him 75 million yen plus incentives next season.  Source: Sports Hochi 12/14/2012

Nikkan Sports notes the deal is not yet official because the Bay Stars are waiting on his physical.  Source: Nikkan Sports 12/14/2012

UPDATE 12/19 @ 4:52pm - Soto passed his physical.  A press conference was held at the Yokohama offices today.  Source: Daily Sports 12/19/2012

The Yokohama Bay Stars are apparently very close to finalizing deals with both Tony Blanco (32) and Enyelbert Soto (30).

According to Nikkan Sports...

Blanco is expected to sign a two-year deal worth 500 million yen.  An announcement could be made some time today.  He could be assigned the number forty-two.

Soto could signed a two-year deal worth 150 million yen plus performance bonuses.  An announcement about him could be made within the next couple of days.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/11/2012

The Chunichi Dragons informed reporters today that they do not plan include Tony Blanco (32), Jorge Sosa (35), and Enyelbert Soto (30) in their list of reserved players.  This means all three players will automatically become free agents on December 3.

Source: Nikkan Sports 11/28/2012

The Yokohama Bay Stars are currently looking into Tony Blanco, Jorge Sosa, Enyelbert Soto, and Maximo Nelson.

The Bay Stars may be preparing to offer Blanco, Sosa, and Soto two-year contracts.  Blanco's deal could be worth 600M yen, Sosa's 350M yen, and Soto's 250M yen.  That could give the team, in one fell swoop the power hitter they have been looking, a closer that will allow Shun Yamaguchi to finally make his move into the starting rotation, and a left-handed starter.

If the Bay Stars sign Blanco, he will likely start at first and bat fifth behind Alex Ramirez.

As for whether or not the Dragons still have a shot at re-signing Blanco, it seems there is little chance of that happening now -- negotiations have taken too long and the divide between the two sides may have grown too large.

The Softbank Hawks have also expressed an interest in Blanco, but it seems he has a desire to play for a team located near Tokyo.  The Bay Stars are also considered favorites because of Ramirez.

With regards to Nelson, the team is still looking into him as an option.  Their biggest concern with him is his right shoulder.  If he is healthy, they may attempt to sign him.

Source: Sponichi 11/20/2012, Sponich 11/20/2012, Sponichi 11/20/2012

According to Sports Hochi, the Yokohama Bay Stars are preparing a two-year deal worth about 200M yen for Jorge Sosa.

The Chunichi Dragons have most likely offered Sosa a one-year deal with a significant raise on his 2012 salary (23.1M yen).  However, the thirty-five-year-old reliever reportedly wants a multi-year deal and is not happy with how he was used this past season.  Because of this, there is a very good chance Sosa will hit the open market.  If he does, the Bay Stars will present him with a two-year deal that could be worth about 200M yen.

The Bay Stars are also said to be looking into Tony Blanco and Enyelbert Soto.

Source: Sports Hochi 11/10/2012

Tony Blanco (31), Enyelbert Soto (30), and Jorge Sosa (35) are all on one-year deals that end after the season.  According to Nikkan Sports, the Dragons would like all three to return next season, but may be a little concerned about whether or not that will be possible.

Blanco has become a fixture in the line-up, although he was hampered by injuries this season.  He apparently wants his contract situation worked out before the start of the Climax Series and the team is expected to begin negotiations the day after their last game of the regular season.  The problem lies in the contract years: Blanco may be seeking a multi-year deal, but the Dragons want to stick with a one-year deal because they have to "consider other players."

The other thing to consider is that Blanco no longer has any real ties with the team.  Chunichi used to the Hiromitsu Ochiai connection, but that no longer exists.  It is entirely possible that he may not longer feel like he has to stay with the Dragons.  Blanco is also thinking about hiring a representative and that could mean he is open to leaving the team after the season.

As for Soto and Sosa, both have agents.  Negotiations for these two players will likely take place once they leave Japan and return to their homes.  There is a chance both players will ask for substantial raises and the team may not be willing to play.  There are also rumors that they may want to return to the Majors.

Worse case scenario, all three players leave after the season.

Source: Nikkan Sports 10/5/2012

Enyelbert Soto has some tightness in his left shoulder* and it appears as though the Dragons will head into the First Stage of the Climax Series without him.

"The starting rotation is a problem.  Two top starters are out.  Things do not look good with Soto.  He says it might be a little [difficult]," said Morimichi Takagi to reporters on Thursday.

Pitching coach Hiroshi Gondo added, "It is not like [Soto] cannot throw, we just do not want to force him.  We have already decided to move forward, even without Soto."

So it seems the Dragon will be without Kazuki Yoshimi and Soto for the First Stage of the Climax Series.

* every report seems to say something different about the injury and the timing of the injury.  Bottom line is that the Dragons will not force him to pitch in the First Stage of the Climax Series.

Source: Sponichi 10/5/2012, Sports Hochi 10/5/2012, Sanspo 10/5/2012, Chunichi Sports 10/5/2012, Nikkan Sports 10/5/2012

According to Sports Hochi, the Chunichi Dragons are planning to offer Tony Blanco (31), Jorge Sosa (35), and Enyelbert Soto (30) extensions for the 2013 season.

Blanco was injured for parts of the season, but still managed to hit twenty-four home runs and drive in sixty-three RBI in ninety-one games.  Sosa has done his part to solidify the bullpen, tossing 61.1 innings over fifty-one games while keeping his ERA under two (1.91).  Soto has provided the team with flexibility with nine starts and nine relief appearances.

Maximo Nelson (30) and Victor Diaz (30) are not a part of the team's plans for the 2013 season and will likely not return.

Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 9/29/2012

Orix Buffaloes

The Buffaloes' chief trainer told reporters today that Yuki Nishi was diagnosed with periarthritis in his right shoulder (肩関節周囲炎).  Source: Sponichi 8/10/2012

Chunichi Dragons

The Dragons played it safe and took Enyelbert Soto off the active roster today with pain/tightness in his left hamstring.  The team will continue to monitor Soto's leg before making any further decisions. Source: Sponichi 8/10/2012