Fukumori Likely Headed Back to Japan, Seibu an Option?

» 05 June 2009 » In npb »

Remember Kazuo Fukumori? Kinda? The other day I stumbled across a Chunichi report on his whereabouts from a couple weeks ago.

The inconsistent righty has failed to make much of an impression with Texas, and according to the report, now the Rangers are looking to send him back to Japan. Texas GM Jon Daniels was quoted as saying “we’d like to transfer Fukumori’s rights to a Japanese club. We’ve already communicated the direction we’re taking to Fukumori through his agent”. Daniels reportedly shopped him to other MLB teams but couldn’t find any takers. I don’t think he’ll have much better luck from NPB teams unless Fukumori can prove he’s healthy.

According to the same report, Fukumori is training in Arizona. He’s coming back from a herniated disk that he had operated on last autumn. 

In other news, Seibu is looking for bullpen help with closer Alex Graman on the shelf. They’ve been looking at US minor leaguers and are sending someone to Korea this month to look at prospects. I suppose Fukumori could be a fit if he’s healthy.

Tags: ,

Trackback URL

  1. Patrick
    Deanna
    06/06/2009 at 7:04 am Permalink

    I was a huge Kazuo Fukumori fan before he left Japan. If you weren’t around for when he was keeping a blog, I highly suggest reading it because it was some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever seen a baseball player write. Gems like “I was so happy I got to pitch in the NPB-MLB games. I faced Ryan Howard. As I stared at him from the mound, all I could think was: ‘OMG HIS NOSE IS HUGE!'”

    Unfortunately, as happens with most players, I lost track of him when they went to the MLB. It’s a shame it didn’t work out for him, but it’d be great if he came back, especially to Rakuten or Yokohama…

  2. Patrick
    Aaon
    06/06/2009 at 7:48 am Permalink

    I spent a good 20 minutes doing searches looking for his whereabouts last week. There was nothing about his rehab. As I remember he only had a one year deal with a team option for the last two. I wonder if Texas picked that up after last year.

  3. Patrick
    Patrick
    06/06/2009 at 10:46 am Permalink

    He actually has a two-year deal, $3m with Texas, according to the Chunichi report.

  4. Patrick
    Goyo
    06/06/2009 at 11:39 am Permalink

    I believe that Kaz was actually released during the off-season and then resigned. .