The Orix Buffaloes announced today that they officially parted ways with Alfredo Figaro.

They also announced that they will give former Hiroshima Carp Mike Schultz (33) a tryout during spring camp.

Source: official announcement (Figaro), official announcement (Schultz)

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Sports Hochi is reporting that the Yokohama Bay Stars are closing in on a deal with outfielder Nyjer Morgan (32).  An official announcement could be made within the next couple of days.

Source: Sports Hochi 1/24/2013

UPDATE @ 5:27pm - The Yokohama Bay Stars announced that they came to terms with Morgan.  He was assigned the number twenty-seven.  No other information is known at this time.  Source: official announcement

UPDATE @ 6:10pm - Sports Hochi is reporting that it is a one-year deal worth 150 million yen plus incentives.  Source: Sports Hochi 1/24/2013

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According to a report by Sanspo, the Hanshin Tigers could give thirty-two-year-old pitcher Matt DeSalvo a look during spring camp.  The Tigers are still compiling a list of candidates and could also opt to wait until March/April when MLB rosters are a little more settled.

Source: Sanspo 1/23/2013

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UPDATE @ 2:25pm - Missed a Nikkan Sports report that says the Tigers are planning to give DeSalvo a tryout in early February.  If that does not pan out, they will check on players in the MLB that are available in March/April.  Source: Nikkan Sports 1/23/2013

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According to Sponichi, the Nippon Ham Fighters are planning to give infielder Michel Abreu (34) a tryout during spring camp.  The Fighters feel Abreu might be able to help fill the void left by the departure of Kensuke Tanaka.  They also like his bat -- they want another right-handed hitter with pop since they are a bit left-handed heavy.

Source: Sponichi 1/19/2013

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UPDATE 1/21 @ 3:30pm -

The tryout will be conducted over a ten day period beginning on February 9.  Source: Sanspo 1/21/2013

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The Chunichi Dragons announced today that they sign Matt Clark (26) to a contract for the 2013 season.  According to Nikkan Sports, Clark signed a one-year deal worth US$350,000 plus incentives with a US$100,000 signing bonus.  He was also assigned the number sixty.

Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 1/10/2013

See also:

Chunichi Dragons close to finalizing deal with Matt Clark

The Softbank Hawks and Yokohama Bay Stars are reportedly both interested in thirty-five-year-old right-handed pitcher Vicente Padilla.  Both teams see Padilla as a starter.  The Bay Stars may be preparing an offer with a salary over 200 million yen.

Based on the reports, Yokohama appears to be in the lead.

Source: Sports Hochi Osaka 1/9/2013, Sponichi 1/9/2013

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The Yomiuri Giants officially announced that they signed Jose Lopez (29) to a contract for the 2013 season.  He has been assigned the number five.

According to Nikkan Sports, the two sides agreed to a one-year deal worth an estimated eighty million yen with a signing bonus of seventeen million yen.

Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 1/7/2013

See also:

Sponichi: Yomiuri Giants interested in infielder Jose Lopez

The Rakuten Eagles officially announced the Edgar Lara (23) and Rafael Polo (19) signings.  Both players were signed to Ikusei contracts worth estimated 2.4 million yen plus three million in signing bonuses.  Lara was assigned the number 127, Polo the number 140.

Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 1/7/2013

See also:

Rakuten Eagles to give Rafael Polo and Edgar Lara tryouts during fall camp

According to a couple of reports, the Chunichi Dragons are in the final stages of negotiations with twenty-six-year-old infield Matt Clark.  Alonzo Powell (a former Dragon and currently an assistant hitting coach for the San Diego Padres) reportedly gave the Dragons the following bit on Clark: "He has power. If things go well, he could drive in a hundred runs.  He can also hit left-handed pitchers.  He has the potential to do well in Japan."

A contract could be finalized with the next few days.

Source: Sanspo 1/5/2013, Chunichi Sports 1/5/2013, Daily Sports 1/5/2013

UPDATE @ 1/6 @ 8:59pm - According to Sports Hochi, Clark is slated to make thirty million yen in 2013.  An announcement of a deal could be made within the next few days.  Both Clark and Powell will arrive in Japan later this month before the start of spring camp.  Source: Sports Hochi 1/6/2013

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The Orix Buffaloes announced that they signed Brandon Dickson (28) and Vinny Rottino (32) to contracts for the 2013 season.

Dickson and Rottino reportedly agreed to one-year contracts worth an estimated US$350,000 plus incentives.  Press conferences for the two players will be held in late-January.  Both are expected to attend spring camp from the first day.

The Buffaloes see Rottino as a utility player that can play the infield and outfield, as well catch.  With regards to Dickson, they see him as an arm for the starting rotation.

Source: Nikkan Sports 12/27/2012, Sponichi 12/27/2012

See also:

Orix Buffaloes have reportedly agreed to deals with Rottino, Dickson