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 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.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweets that the New York Yankees have contacted Hideki Matsui.  Heyman also tweeted that the Yankees only have about US$1-2M to spend on a DH.

Nikkan Sports mentions that a number of teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, and LA Dodgers, could be interested in Matsui.

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Hideki Okajima took off for Australia (training in the Gold Coast) out of Narita Airport on Monday and will return to Japan on 2/2.

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Via Nikkan Sports, the Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington named Colby Lewis his opening day starter, regardless of whether or not they sign Yu Darvish.

FYI: The Nippon Ham Fighters have not heard from Darvish.

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Deadlines:

Norichika Aoki - 1/17 at 5pm EST (1/18 at 7am JST)

Yu Darvish - 1/18 at 5pm EST (1/19 at 7am JST)

Via Nikkan Sports: The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay posted the following update on Kosuke Fukudome:

The agent for Kosuke Fukudome has called as well. Fukudome, 34, hit a combined .262/.342/.370 with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland last year.

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Hideki Okajima is working on a new type of two-seam fastball.  He worked out in Kanagawa on Thursday.

"[The New York Yankees] were the first team to call and I thought I had the best chance with them," said Okajima.  "It would be like going from the Yomiuri Giants to the Hanshin Tigers in Japan."

Okajima will be heading to Australia some time later this month to continue his training.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka started his workouts in Ft. Myers on Thursday.  He kept his workouts light and threw the ball about 20 times.  Other than taking about a week off during New Years, Matsuzaka has been working out on a regular basis.

"This is not like any other off-season," said Matsuzaka.  "I am not in a situation where I can sit and relax."

Matsuzaka may also be allowed to toss a bullpen session soon.

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Kenshin Kawakami has posted an update on his blog.  Nikkan Sports seems to think the update means Kawakami is prepared to take the year off if he does not find any takers.

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Hideki Matsui returned to Tokyo from Nomi, Ishikawa on Friday.

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Ichiro Suzuki spent about two and a half hours working out at Hotto Motto Kobe on Thursday (one and a half hours on the field and one hour indoors).  During his first BP session of the year, Ichiro took 72 swings and hit 11 over the fence.

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Norichika Aoki arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday.  Aoki's workouts with the Milwaukee Brewers is expected to take place on 1/8.

Hideki Okajima signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees that include an invite to Spring Training.  MLB.com's Bryan Hoch has posted an update.  A snip:

Though he has also had success against right-handed batters, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the club is considering Okajima as a left-handed specialist.

"He's somebody that definitely can get left-handers out," Cashman said. "We'll see what it looks like when we get to Spring Training."

The same article also mentions the following about Hiroyuki Nakajima:

New York has until Jan. 6 to reach an agreement with Nakajima, who can play shortstop as well as second and third bases. The Yankees also have Eduardo Nunez and Brandon Laird in line as potential backup infielders.

"Until the Nakajima thing declares itself either way, I'm really not in a position to pursue anything else, because he very well may be here," Cashman said. "If he is, that's an exclamation point to what I have. If he isn't, potential discussions with other players can continue."

And Hoch tweeted the following on Nakajima:

Sounds like Brian Cashman is waiting to see what happens with the Nakajima situation before pursuing Eric Chavez any further. [link]

One way or the other, Nakajima will be resolved next week. [link]

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Hiroki Kuroda's agent Steve Hilliard told Sponichi that they are getting closer and closer to making a final decision.  He also said that, "Kuroda is currently at the stage where he is exploring all his options, both Hiroshima and the MLB.  It will be a tough decision to make."

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Sponichi reports that Arn Tellem has begun negotiations for Yu Darvish.

They also quote Darvish' father as saying, "I heard that negotiations between Mr. Tellem and the [Texas Rangers] will begin some time after Christmas. ... We still have not received any updates.  We are just waiting."

The Rangers have until 1/18 @ 5pm EST (or 1/19 at 7am JST) to work out a deal.

Nikkan Sports mentions ESPN's Wallace Matthews' report on the New York Yankees and Hiroki Kuroda.  A snip:

It has been reported in several places that the Yankees and Red Sox are actively pursuing free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, but the baseball sources I have spoken with over the past week say it is unlikely the Yankees will make a bid on the 37-year-old former Dodger.

...

Assuming the person is telling me the truth -- and I am -- any Yankee "interest'' in Kuroda is probably designed to drive up the price for the Red Sox.

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Hideki Matsui left for Japan out of JFK Airport on Tuesday and told reporters before leaving that the only thing he could do right now was to wait for offers while preparing for the 2012 season.  He also said that his demands/wishes were not very high and that he planned to approach any deal even-keeled.

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Sports Hochi is reporting that Hideki Okajima is nearing the final stages of finalizing a minor league deal (includes Spring Training invite) with the New York Yankees.  Sports Hochi also reports that Okajima received a number of offers, but all were minor league contracts.

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Via Nikkan Sports and Sponichi, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser provides the following update on Hisashi Iwakuma:

I checked in with some sources about the A's interest in Hisashi Iwakuma, which was reported by the Contra Costa Times the other day, and while I had it confirmed that Oakland is one of the four teams to have inquired about the Japanese pitcher, the A's are "lukewarm" about Iwakuma.

I'm told that there are two teams with "viable" interest in Iwakuma, and the A's aren't one of them.

On Tuesday, Iwakuma worked out at the indoor training facilities at Kleenex Stadium and tossed a bullpen session (about ten pitches) after he worked with weights and played some catch.

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According to Sponichi, Takashi Saito's new uniform number with the Arizona Diamonbacks will be 48 -- four because it is his lucky number and because he will be in his 40s and eight because it can also represent "infinity" when put on its side.

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Sports Hochi notes that Yu Darvish's divorce could be finalized in January 2012.

MLB.com's Lyle Spencer feels Hiroki Kuroda may not return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  A snip from his latest article:

Capuano's signing apparently means that free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will not return to the Dodgers. They landed Capuano for less money for two seasons than Kuroda would have drawn for one year.

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Via Nikkan Sports, The Woonsocket Call's Brendan McGair says that Hideki Okajima switched agents in October, from Joe Rosen to Arn Tellem.

Sports Hochi Osaka is reporting that the Hanshin Tigers are looking into Hideki Okajima and Ryota Igarashi as a possible means to help lighten the load the bullpen has to handle next season -- they pushed Daiki Enokida pretty hard this season and they're are thinking about converting Hiroyuki Kobayashi back into a starter.

Nikkan Sports reports that the Hanshin Tigers are looking into Hideki Okajima, Kenshin Kawakami, and Kosuke Fukudome.  Daily Sports also drops Kei Igawa's name as well.

While all four players could end up back in the US, the Tigers want to be prepared if one or more decide to return to Japan next year.

Games from the 9th:

Seattle Mariners 7 - Kansas City Royals 3
Ichiro Suzuki started in right and batted first.  He went 4-for-5: single to left, solo homer (5) to right, RBI single to center (steals second), ground out to second, infield single (steals second).  Ichiro now needs 33 hits in 18 games for 200.

Texas Rangers 13 - Oakland A's 4
Hideki Matsui started in left and batted third.  He went 2-for-3: walk (run scored), single to center, ground out to short, 2-run homer (12) to right.

Cleveland Indians 8 - Chicago White Sox 4
Kosuke Fukudome started in right and batted first.  He went 2-for-5: fly out to center, single to right, fly out to right, 2-run single to right, strikeout swinging.

Detroit Tigers 8 - Minnesota Twins 4
Tsuyoshi Nishioka started at short and batted ninth.  He went 1-for-3: walk, ground out to first, bunt single, ground out to second.

Philadelphia Phillies 5 - Milwaukee Brewers 3
Takashi Saito entered the game in the top of the 7th, with runners on first and second, 1 out, and the Brewers down 4-0, and allowed one inherited runner to score on 2 hits before getting out of the inning on a strikeout.  Final line: 0.1 IP, 3 BF, 13-8 NP-S, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs 3 - Pawtucket Red Sox 2
Hideki Okajima was called on to get the final out of the bottom in the 5th (runners on first and second with Pawtucket down 2-1) and went on to retire the side in order in the 6th.  Final line: 1.1 IP, 4 BF, 17-12 NP-S, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR.

Junichi Tazawa followed Okajima and entered the game in the bottom of the 6th (Pawtucket still down 2-0).  Tazawa retired the side in order in the 6th and struck out the first two batters he faced in the 7th before getting replaced by Randy Williams.  Final line: 1.2 IP, 5 BF, 20-13 NP-S, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR.

While nothing has been officially decided, Hideki Okajima has hinted at the possibility of returning to the NPB next season.  The Hanshin Tigers expressed an interest in the veteran lefty back in December, but they didn't really push the matter since they already has 68 players on roster (out of a possible 70 spots).

When reporters recently reached out to the Tigers for comment on the team's possible interest in Okajima for the 2012 season, team president Nobuo Minami said it was something they couldn't comment on right now.  It's quite possible that the Tigers won't go after Okajima, especially after they expressed concerns about growing too old (Okajima turns 36 in December), but it seems much will depend on how the team finishes out the season.