2021 CPBL Rumour Tracker: New Foreign Players

Ah yes, it’s the 2020 offseason, and all the CPBL teams are busy signing new foreign players for the 2021 season. And this is typically the time where we get bombarded with tonnes of potential foreign players signing rumours.

As always, to keep all the news in one place, we have set up an offseason rumour tracker for all the potential 2021 signing. [Last Updated: December 28, 2020]


December 19 Signing Rumours

  • Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa. [Apple Daily]
  • Fubon Guardians are interested in signing CTBC Brothers’ Esmil Rogers. [Apple Daily]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons are eyeing Ivan Nova. [Online Rumour]

December 20 Signing Rumours

  • Wei Chuan Dragons are planning to sign former MLB infielder Kendrys Morales for the 2021 season. [Apple Daily]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting former Guardians’ right-hander Bryan Woodall. [Liberty Sports]

December 21 Signing Rumours

  • Uni-Lions are targeting 33-year-old left-hander Félix Doubront. [ETtoday]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons are not targeting Kendrys Morales, they want to sign someone younger from the Yankees system that can play multiple positions. [ETtoday]
  • MLB reporter Francys Romero confirmed there is no conversation between Kendrys Morales and the Dragons. Morales does not plan to come out of retirement. [Francys Romero]

December 22 Signing Rumours

  • Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting infielder Matt Duffy for the 2021 season. [Liberty Sports]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons manager told the media we received information about Kendrys Morales, but they decided not to pursue him upon reviewing it.
  • Chicago Cubs signed infielder Matt Duffy to a minor league deal. [Bob Nightengale]

December 23 Signing Rumours

  • Uni-Lions are targeting another former MLB pitcher. They are expecting to choose between this unnamed pitcher and Félix Doubront. [Apple Daily]
  • CTBC Brothers announced they reached a preliminary agreement with a yet to be named Cuban left-hander. [CTBC Brothers]
  • An unnamed CPBL team is interested in 32-year-old right-hander Jake Brigham. [SET News]
  • Rakuten Monkeys are close to signing Jake Brigham. [IS PLUS]
  • Rakuten Monkeys’ general manager confirmed Jake Brigham is one of their potential candidates. [ETtoday]
  • Rakuten Monkeys, CTBC Brothers and Wei Chuan Dragons have all been in contact with Jake Brigham. [SET News]
  • 30-year-old right-hander Drew Gagnon is likely to join the CPBL for the 2021 season. [IS PLUS]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting 28-year-old infielder Rosell Herrera. The Dragons’ manager hinted the player they want to sign is someone in the Yankees 60-man roster and can play both infield and outfield. [Apple Daily]
  • CTBC Brothers are close to signing 31-year-old Cuban left-hander Onelki Garcia. [Liberty Sports]
  • Both Fubon Guardians and CTBC Brothers are targeting Héctor Noesí. [SET News]
  • Fubon Guardians have reportedly signed 33-year-old right-hander Héctor Noesí. [Apple Daily]
  • Fubon Guardians have declined to comment on the Héctor Noesí rumour. [Fubon Guardians]

December 24 Signing Rumours

  • Fubon Guardians confirmed the signing of Héctor Noesí. [Fubon Guardians]
  • An unnamed team in the Asian league (NPB or KBO) have offered a minor league contract to Esmil Rogers. [Online Rumour]
  • CTBC Brothers are in talks with 2-3 unnamed pitchers. One of them is a former MLB pitcher with Asian professional baseball experience. [SET News]

December 25 Signing Rumours

  • CTBC Brothers confirmed the signing of Onelki Garcia. [CTBC Brothers]
  • CTBC Brothers announced they are not going to re-sign Esmil Rogers for the 2021 season. [CTBC Brothers]
  • CTBC Brothers have agreed to terms with a yet to be named right-hander with MLB and Asia experience. [CTBC Brothers]
  • Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting Esmil Rogers. [Online Rumour]
  • Uni-Lions have reportedly signed 33-year-old left-hander Félix Doubront. [ETtoday]
  • CTBC Brothers yet to be named pitcher is likely to be Drew Gagnon. [SET News]
  • CTBC Brothers yet to be named pitcher is a Dominican right-hander with MLB and NPB experience. [Liberty Sports]
  • CTBC Brothers’ yet to be named pitcher is Gabriel Ynoa. [Online Rumour]

December 26 Signing Rumours

  • Wei Chuan Dragons confirmed the signing of Jake Brigham, Drew Gagnon, Junichi Tazawa, Rosell Herrera and Bryan Woodall. [Wei Chuan Dragons]

December 27 Signing Rumours

  • CTBC Brothers have reportedly signed Gabriel Yonas. [Liberty Sports]
  • Fubon Guardians have reportedly signed J. C. Ramírez. [ETtoday]

December 28 Signing Rumours

  • Fubon Guardians confirmed the signing of 32-year-old right-hander J. C. Ramírez. [Fubon Guardians]
  • CTBC Brothers confirmed the signing of 27-year-old right-hander Gabriel Ynoa. [CTBC Brothers]

6 COMMENTS

  1. An unnamed KBO team have offered a minor league contract to Esmil Rogers. [Online Rumour]
    -> No minor league contract in KBO. It would be NPB or wrong

    • Ah, maybe it is the NPB! Or maybe that’s Esmil Rogers agent tactics trying to ask for more money in the CPBL.

      I will rephrase the rumour and make it a bit more vague.

  2. KBO teams don’t offer minor league contracts. They do put injured/underperforming players into the minors but they still count against the foreign player limit so they don’t sign someone expecting to put them on the farm.

    Either way, only 3 teams in the KBO have open pitcher slots at this point. LG Twins, NC Dinos, and KIA Tigers. If Drew Gagnon is leaving KIA for the CPBL then maybe the Tigers have their eye on Esmil Rogers as his replacement.

    • Esmil Rogers seems a bit too old for the KBO too. So I don’t know how legit is that rumour. But I think you are right, it is probably the NPB, because of that “minor league” contact.

      • KIA signed a new pitcher so that limits the teams that might be interested in Rogers. Seems like a good sign that Gagnon might be heading south though.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here