Yardbarker: Takashi Saito

Notes on Recent Cubs Hot Stove Reports

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:23:00 -0500

The hot stove is lit, and things should be crazy at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. The Cubs have been in the news a lot lately, so I figured I'd take the blog out of hiatus and get cracking again.Takashi Saito Once an elite closer, Saito is turning 40 in February and has been in decline since 2007. Thing is, he's still serviceable and may not be a bad middle/late inning guy in 2010. The rumor mill says eight teams are kicking the tires, so that may make the price go up too much....

Ten Moves I Wouldn't MInd the Cubs Pursuing

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:05:41 -0500

Before the first "the Cubs can't afford that "comment, let me preface all this by saying I wouldn't mind the Cubs making any of these moves, not necessarily all of them. And it's just a bunch conjecture and speculation and "damn, I'm bored, let's make up some stuff". I did attempt to be reasonable at least.

1. Sign Kelly Johnson if he's non-tendered and non-tender Mike Fontenot. There's probably not a big difference between the two, but I like Johnson better. I'm also not opposed to a trade for Johnson for some marginal low-level minor league talent.

2. If the Tigers decide to move Granderson for prospects only - as opposed to major league pre-arbitration talent - something along the lines of Josh Vitters, Darwin Barney or Hak-Ju Lee and Chris Carpenter (although you have to think Rafael Dolis, Andrew Cashner or Jay Jackson would need to be included). Welington Castillo, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin or Ryan Flaherty I imagine could also be of some interest to the Tigers.

Although I still think the Tigers wll only move Granderson if they can attach one of their bad contracts with him or get some early arbitration or auto-renewal players.

3. While they're talking to the Tigers about Granderson, see if adding Randy Wells and one more pitching prospect would get Edwin Jackson. Hell, let's propose a blockbuster: Vitters, Lee, Jackson, Colvin and Wells for Granderson and Jackson. Mix and match at your discretion.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers." width="166" />

4. Trade Milton Bradley for Pat Burrell, suck up the 2nd year of the deal or see if adding Jake Fox into the trade could get the Rays to take some of the salary. I'm under the assumption that this is the only reasonable offer the Cubs have and it's just a matter of how much the Cubs are willing to pay at this point. I have doubts the Cubs can do any better and Hendry should learn from his Sammy Sosa mistake about waiting too long on a deal. While the Cubs would probably then have to pay someone to take Burrell off their hands, Burrell wouldn't be a terrible bench/platoon/"when Soriano gets injured" option.

5. Bring back Reed Johnson to platoon for Fukudome and possibly Granderson if the Cubs can get him. One year deal max though.

6. Offer Rich Harden arbitration. On the off chance he accepts it -which he wouldn't - there are worse things that could happen then having a guy with an ERA barely over 3 the last two seasons and 51 starts around.

7. When Harden goes somewhere else, see how Ben Sheets is doing.

8. Kick the tires on the following starting pitchers assuming no Harden and Ben Sheets arm isn't working: Justin Duchscherer, Randy Johnson, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Erik Bedard and Mike Hampton. See what a one year deal with incentives would cost.

9. Sign one of these relievers, Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito, Kiko Calero, Kelvim Escobar or J.J. Putz with the caveat that Escobar and Putz medical records and rehab give them a clean bill of health. Wagner's the only one I would go past a year deal on.

10. Give Mark Prior a tryout. I'm only half-joking, but I would love to see him make a comeback, even as a reliever. And if it means I could unretire my Prior jersey, all the better.

In the comments yesterday I suggested the following potential roster for the Cubs.

Starters: Granderson, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, K. Johnson/Baker

Bench: Burrell, K. Johnson/Baker, Hill, R. Johnson and Miles (or Blanco if they can move Miles)

Rotation: Z, Dempster, Wells, Lilly, Gorzelanny

Bullpen: Marmol, Guzman, Grabow, Saito, Marshall, bullpen musical chairs for the last 2 spots

That's a team I could live with next year. Johnson and Burell can platoon for Fukudome and Granderson on most days. Oh sure, the outfield defense will suck on those days, but there's no such thing as a perfect baseball world. Plus, you're probably not gonna do a strict platoon with Granderson anyway. Replacing Fontentot for Kelly Johnson isn't gonna make much of a difference if that falls through. Of course, it unravels like a house of cards if the Cubs can't swing a trade for Granderson.

And now your turn to mock me in the comments...

Sights set on Saito

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:00:40 -0500

According to NPB Tracker (per MLBTR), eight teams are reportedly interested in reliever Takashi Saito, who recently became a free agent after the Red Sox declined his $6M option. Of the eight clubs, only the White Sox, Cubs, Braves and Mets have been explicitly mentioned, however, one wonders whether or not the Yankees could also [...]

Darren Oliver or Takashi Saito?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:00:20 -0500

Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker reports that the New York Mets are among eight teams that have interest in Japanese reliever Takashi Saito. According to Sponichi, Takashi Saito has eight teams interested, including the White Sox, Cubs, Braves and Mets. The Braves had some interest in Saito way back in 2002 but he wound up remaining [...]

Mets one of eight interested in Saito...

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:51:00 -0500

First I like to thank Mike Silva for referencing me in his post on this subject at NYBD and acknowledge the excellent argument he makes in regard to this subject. I will say this I have been a fan of Saito's for a few years and completed this post on him last off season, but Saito is 40 y/o, has had a history of injuries and would be expensive...But what the Mets learned in 2008 was that you need a back-up plan at closer in case of an injury, with J.J. Putz gone the Mets once again have u...

Cubs Interested in Takashi Saito?

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:34:41 -0500

According to a report from the NPB Tracker, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are one of eight teams "pursuing former Dodgers closer Takashi Saito." The right-handed reliever will turn 40 on February 14 and had a solid year for the Red Sox in 2009. Takashi Saito was 3-3 in 56 games with two saves and two blown saves last season.

10/20 - Saito Could Be Back, But Who Will He Join?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:15:09 -0500

Report: Takashi Saito Clears Outright Waivers, Open to Returning to Red Sox - NESN.com Cool to see a player understanding that his contract wasn't going to work for the team. Healthy or Not, Mike Lowell's Role Won't Be Defined For 2010 - NESN.com As this offseason gets underway, one has to wonder whether Lowell's days in Boston -- as an everyday starter at least -- are numbered. Red Sox Throwdown: 2010 Edition, Part One - Surviving Grady I REALLY hope they were...

Saito would be solid as a set-up man..

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:45:00 -0500

Takashi Saito's situation is very similar to J.J. Putz; both are former closers, who enjoyed their new teams as a set-up man and may now be squeezed out due to economics.The Red Sox have the luxury of replacing Saito with younger and cheaper pitchers. The once dominant Dodgers closer had to settle for a set-up role in Boston after 2008, when some felt he was an injury risk ( only 46 gms in 2008 due to shoulder trouble) while others felt he was a gimmick pitcher the league would figure out...

Takashi Saito Still in Boston, Actually

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:16:42 -0500

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP 5 months ago: Boston Red Sox pitcher Takashi Saito reacts after New York Yankees' Derek Jeter grounded out to second baseman Dustin Pedroia to end the baseball game Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Red Sox won 7-3. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Browse more photos » OK, so Takashi Saito isn't quite out of Boston yet: The Red Sox are c...

Martinez & Saito – Join The List Of Winners!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:02:16 -0500

Congratulations go out to Victor Martinez and Takashi Saito! As they are the latest winners who were selected by you the FANS. Martinez and Saito have been selected the BoSox Injection’s Boston Red Sox Players Of The Month, for August 2009. After having some technical difficulties in getting this month’s contest opened. For which I do [...]

What's Wrong With The Bullpen?

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:25:00 -0500

Another great start from the Red Sox rotation, another loss. This time Takashi Saito wears the goat horns. Despite helpful members in the Red Sox dugout encouraging Saito with "Throw it over the white thing!" he was unable to find the plate. After walking three of the first four batters in the ninth, Saito gave up an infield single to put the Mariners ahead. The Sox went went down in the ninth faster than Judy Burkinshaw on prom night: game over.After the 11-10 disaster and yesterda...

Sox Sign Takashi Saito

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:18:57 -0500

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Sox have signed the former Dodger closer to a one-year incentive laden deal, with an option for the 2010 season. The deal is worth between $1.5 and $2.5 million guaranteed, and with incentives could go up to $7 million. The deal was completed yesterday after ...

Boston signs Takashi Saito

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:08:53 -0500

The deep bullpen has just gotten a little bit deeper. Takashi Saito, who was drafted an offer earlier this week, has accepted and will join the Sox relief The numbers are just a bit different than what we reported earlier. According to FOX Sports, his guaranteed money is between $1.5 mil ...

Takashi Saito = Sword Wielding Psycho

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:44:27 -0500

At first, I figured the Dodgers were just trying to use his Japanese ethnicity to make a funny introduction video, but then I read this interview...