Yataro Sakamoto threw 100+ pitches (fastballs and curves) to Takeya Nakamura during BP today.

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Hideaki Wakui showed up and worked out at Seibu 2 Stadium for the first time this year.  His workouts included running, playing catch, and strength training exercises.  Wakui also worked out with other players like Tatsuya Oishi.

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Oishi threw about 30 pitches (mostly fastballs) in the bullpen (half-bent catcher).  This was apparently his fourth bullpen session.  He also threw at about 60-70%.

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Hisanobu Watanabe watched the 2011 draft class working out at Seibu 2 Stadium on Sunday.  He later told reporters about how he might try playing Hiroyuki Nakajima at third, Hideto Asamura at short, and Takeya Nakamura at first.

Incidentally, Nakamura told reporters that while he would like to play third, he also understands the team has needs.

Sanspo is carrying the following comments taken during Hiroyuki Nakajima's press conference today:

Your negotiations [with the New York Yankees] did not work out...

I kept hearing that the terms were not very good and I figured that was why negotiations were called off.  I really do not have anything more to say [about that].

Why did negotiations break off?

I did not really care about the money, it was the other things that were a problem.  I did not mind being a back-up player for a year because I felt I could use that time to study the league, but they were giving me the same kind of deal for the second year as well.  My agent said it would make more sense to wait another year, earn my international FA option, and speak to as many different clubs as possible.

Your thoughts on the posting system.

I was not involved in the negotiations, so I really do not know...  For players, I think it might not be the best system.

Your thoughts on returning to Seibu this season.

I am curious what the fans will say.  Some will probably say nice things, others will probably say bad things.  Regardless, I will do my best to help the team win a championship.

Hiroyuki Nakajima met with the Seibu Lions today and agreed to a one-year deal worth 280M yen.

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Sponichi notes that Tetsuya Shiozaki (team development department) taught Yusei Kikuchi how to throw a sinker when they were in Australia.  Kikuchi apparently wanted another pitch (in addition to the fastball and slider) he could turn to when facing right-handed batters.

Nikkan Sports mentions it calling it a two-seamer with sinker-like movement.

vs right-handed batters: 52-for-158, 6 BB, 19 SO, .329/.365/.494
vs left-handed batters: 11-for-53, 2 BB, 5 SO, .208/.236/.283

Hiroyuki Nakajima returned to Japan today and is scheduled to meet with the Seibu Lions for salary negotiations on Tuesday.  Nakajima flew to New York on Thursday (1/5) in an attempt to meet with the New York Yankees.

On Sunday, Hisanobu Watanabe told reporters he was thinking about keeping Nakajima at short batting third.  Takumi Kuriyama, Watanabe's choice to take over the third slot in the batting order, told reporters he was flexible and would take any spot in the line-up.

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Yusei Kikuchi started a weight training program for his upper body this winter.  He has also managed to increase his weight 89kg (up 3kg) by eating 6 meals a day since his return from Australia.

On Monday, Kikuchi attended a talk session at Ito-Yokado Hanamaki in Iwate.  About 2,000 fans showed up.  Kikuchi also appeared at a press conference announcing his agreement to become a spokesperson for JA Iwate.

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1st round draft pick Ken Togame could toss a bullpen session as early as Thursday (1/12) -- he wants to get a few of them under his belt before the start of spring camp.

Ichiro Suzuki worked out for about two hours at Hotto Motto Kobe on Sunday.  He later spoke to reporters and said he never imagined he would be able to play on the same team as Hisashi Iwakuma.  Ichiro then added that he looked forward to standing on the same field, wearing the same uniform, as Munenori Kawasaki and Iwakuma.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch for the third straight day on Saturday -- 30 throws at a max distance of about 30 meters.  This was apparently the first time Matsuzuaka played catch three days in the row since his surgery.

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Norichika Aoki's workout with the Milwaukee Brewers lasted 90 minutes according to Sponichi and 75 minutes according to Nikkan Sports.  Eight Brewers' officials watched over Aoki -- team owner Mark Attanasio also reportedly dropped by.

A separate Sponichi report notes that Aoki took 32 swings during BP and even hit one over the right field fence and was flawless during fielding practice.

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Via Nikkan Sports: FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal has posted a statement released by Greg Genske, explaining why Hiroyuki Nakajima did not sign with the New York Yankees.  A snip of that statement:

Out of respect for the Yankees and for the process, we engaged in discussions, but it became clear that this was not a good fit at this stage of his career. Nakajima's decision had nothing to do with money; he just didn't feel that he would be using his abilities to the fullest and helping his club to the maximum extent possible in the role that the Yankees envisioned for him.

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If Yu Darvish signs with the Texas Rangers, travel agency H.I.S. is interested in putting together a travel package for fans.

According to Nikkan Sports, the New York Yankees announced they were giving up on Hiroyuki Nakajima about three hours after he arrived in New York (he arrived at JFK Airport at around 9:32am and the announcement was made at around 12:26pm).  The New York Times notes that the Yankees did not know about his trip.  Newsday mentions that Nakajima was looking for a three-year deal.  And Sponichi reports that Nakajima was apparently fine with both the money and his role as back-up; the problem was that Nakajima wanted to become an FA after the year while the Yanks wanted to hold onto his rights for the next six years.

Nakajima could begin salary negotiations for the 2012 season with the Seibu Lions as early as next week.

The New York Yankees have failed to reach an agreement with Hiroyuki Nakajima.  Via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch:

"We unfortunately could not come to an agreement with Hiroyuki," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. "We wish him the best of luck during the upcoming 2012 season."

Nakajima is quoted as saying:

It is unfortunate we could not agree to a deal.  I want to thank the Seibu Lions for posting me and the New York Yankees for placing a bid on me.

The Seibu Lions and Hiroyuki Nakajima's management company informed the media today that Nakajima left for New York earlier today.  The New York Yankees have until 1/6 at 5pm EST (or 1/7 at 7am JST) to work out a deal.

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Ichiro Suzuki did some long toss (about 80 meters) during his workouts at Hotto Motto Kobe today.

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Yu Darvish and his father arrived at Narita Airport today.

Hideki Matsui visited his alma mater Seiryo High School on Wednesday.

Matsui is also not thinking about a return to Japan this year.  When asked about 2013, he said he was only thinking about 2012 right now.

His old high school coach, Tomoshige Yamashita, told reporters on Wednesday that he felt Matsui could play at least another three years in the Majors.

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FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal posted the following update on Hiroki Kuroda:

Multiple executives say they were told by the agent for Hiroki Kuroda that the free-agent right-hander will get between $11 million and $13 million per year. A source close to Kuroda says no such claim was made.

Kuroda, who turns 37 on Feb. 10, may have received an offer at that level from a Japanese club or a major-league team that does not interest him. His representative continues to circle back to other major-league teams, sources say.

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Sponichi is reporting that the Rakuten Eagles will be going after Kei Igawa.  Sponichi also notes that Igawa has been working out in Los Angeles since November -- trunk strengthening exercises during the day and long distance throwing in the afternoon.

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Nikkan Sports reports that Norichika Aoki will head to the US today (1/5) and will begin his workouts with the Milwaukee Brewers on 1/8.

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FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal tweets that it seems unlikely that the New York Yankees and Hiroyuki Nakajima will be able to complete a deal by Friday @ 5pm EST.

The YES Networks' Jack Curry notes that unless Nakajima is willing to accept a one-year deal, it is not likely that he will be playing for the Yanks this year.

And CBS Sports' Jon Heyman mentions that Nakajima is seeking a multi-year deal worth a couple million a year.

Via Nikkan Sports, ESPN's Wallace Matthews reports that it seems unlikely that the New York Yankees and Hiroyuki Nakajima will be able to agree on a deal before the deadline.  A snip:

For one thing, the 29-year-old is the captain and everyday shortstop for the Seibu Lions. The best the Yankees could offer him is a bench role, using him as a sub SS-3B-2B, and the paycheck for that job is nowhere near what Nakajima is looking for.

For another, Nakajima will be a free-agent after next season and will be free to negotiate with any MLB team without having to deal with the restrictions of the Japanes posting system.

The Star-Ledger's Marc Carig has also posted a number of tweets on that pretty much say the same thing (one, two, three, four).