CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #152

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Wei Chuan Dragons News: Junichi Tazawa

On December 18, Apple Daily broke the news that the Wei Chuan Dragons are targeting 34-year-old former MLB right-hander Junichi Tazawa (田澤純一) as one of their foreign players for the 2021 season.

“We have been in contact with Tazawa, but nothing is set in stone yet,” said the Dragons general manager.

Junichi Tazawa began his professional career with plenty of spotlights. Back in 2008, he decided to skip the NPB draft and sign with an MLB team. This eventually led to the NPB implementing a “Tazawa Rule” to prevent amateur players from signing with the MLB teams.

Tazawa ended up signing with the Boston Red Sox in 2009 and made his MLB debut at the same year. From 2009 to 2019, he compiled a record of 4.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 395.1 innings in the MLB.

According to the Dragons’ manager, they are planning to sign three pitchers and one position player to begin the 2021 season.

“Should we able to sign this MLB calibre pitcher, he will pitch out the bullpen next season,” said the Dragons manager.

Dragons Signing Rumours: Kendrys Morales, Bryan Woodall

According to Apple Daily, apart from Junichi Tazawa, the Dragons are also planning to sign RHP Bryan Woodall and former MLB infielder Kendrys Morales.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I liked Rakuten’s signing of Aaron Wilkerson — he pitched very well in the high minors from 2017 to 2019. Seems like the Dragons are trying to sign over the hill names. It doesn’t look like Tazawa or Morales played in 2020, and Woodall looks done as a CPBL starter.

    • I always prefer a Triple-A player with solid numbers as foreign players than some old MLB has been.

      As for the Dragons, we will see how that pan out. There are some conflicting reports on Morales. For a position player, surely the Dragons can find a better, younger guy then Morales. I think they should sign Carlos Peguero, he has previously NPB and KBO experience and got plenty of power. Another guy I like in LIDOM is Melky Cabrera and Juan Francisco. Cabrera would be a marketing success because of his Yankees connection with Chien-Ming Wang.

      Oh, by the way, there’s also a rumour about the Dragons are eyeing Ivan Nova as well, but I don’t know how legit is that.

      • Yamaico Navarro is hitting well in the Dominican Republic this winter with currently the league’s third highest OPS. He had some huge years in the KBO, but his career hit a wall when he moved up to NPB. He’s definitely worth consideration from the Dragons.

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