BallHype - Latest Takashi Saito News Articles

Jose Valverde Declines Arbitration, Leaves Houston

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 05:07:08 +0000

Jose Valverde has decided to test the free agent market and declined arbitration from the Houston Astros late Monday night. Valverde was 4-2 with 25 saves in 29 opportunities in 2009, ending the year with a 2.33 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. The Braves have already signed Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito, and Rafael Soriano accepted Atlanta's arbitration offer late on Monday night to make the closer pool this winter not as deep as initially thought. Valverde is a high-energy closer who could jump to the top of many teams' lists this week as the Winter Meetings continue. Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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Rafael Soriano Accepts Arbitration, Atlanta Braves Bullpen Loaded

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 04:55:15 +0000

Reports late on Monday night are that Atlanta Braves' reliever Rafael Soriano has accepted arbitration rather than trying the free agent market this winter. According to various baseball sources, Soriano could earn between $6.5 and $8 million with a one-year deal for 2010; the Braves would need Soriano's consent to trade him before the middle of June. The unexpected retention of Soriano, who saves 27 games in 31 opportunities last year, gives the Braves a suddenly loaded bullpen. Atlanta has already added Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner this winter to bolster the back end of their bullpen. The Braves now have three closers in the pen heading to the final season of manager Bobby Cox's great career. The Braves also extended Tim Hudson earlier this winter, giving the Braves a very deep pitching staff. As Atlanta continues to search for a bat, this pitching depth might become a resource Braves' GM Frank Wren draws from to make a deal. Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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Braves Love Those Old Relievers, Sign Saito

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:04:21 +0000

A day after signing 38-year-old Billy Wagner to close games in 2010, the Atlanta Braves signed another veteran reliever from the Boston Red Sox. Yesterday, the Braves signed 39-year-old Takashi Saito to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. Saito can earn an additional $2.3 million in incentives in 2010. Saito is expected to be the primary set-up man to Wagner in 2010. Saito has been pretty solid since coming to the United States in 2006. In four years–two with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one with the Red Sox, he has never had an ERA above 2.49. Saito will set up Wagner in 2010 Is Saito the dominant pitcher now that he was four years ago? No, he is not. This is evident by the fact that his K/9 has gone down the last two years (11.5 to 8.4) and his BB/9 have gone up the last two years (3.1 to 4.0). Having watching Saito all last year with the Red Sox, I would say he is “wild within the strikezone.” He gets the job done, but I think Braves fans are going to get impatient with how ...

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Takashi Saito next to head to Braves

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 05:07:47 +0000

The Red Sox officially have two openings in their bullpen, and both come courtesy of Atlanta. One day after signing Sox reliever Billy Wagner to close, the Braves inked...

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Braves add to bullpen, sign Takashi Saito to one-year deal

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 02:26:09 +0000

Japanese reliever Takashi Saito agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with Atlanta on Thursday as the Braves make another ...

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Braves add to bullpen with Takashi Saito

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:41:14 +0000

The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with reliever Takashi Saito.

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Braves add to bullpen with Takashi Saito

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:39:06 +0000

The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with reliever Takashi Saito.

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Braves bolster 'pen further with addition of Saito

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:47 +0000

The Braves have made another move to strengthen their pitching staff, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito.

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Braves stay busy, add Saito to revamped bullpen

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 23:33:39 +0000

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito.

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Braves add to bullpen, sign Takashi Saito

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:59:07 +0000

ATLANTA - The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito. Saito, who...

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Braves add to bullpen with Saito

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:49:02 +0000

The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito.

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Braves agree to deal with reliever Saito (AP)

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:32:43 +0000

The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito. Saito, who turns 40 in February, has 83 saves in four major league seasons after a long career in Japan. He made the NL All-Star team in 2007, when he had 39 saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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The Back of The Bullpen Is Now Secure For The Atlanta Braves

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 21:31:19 +0000

The young offseason has come to quite a start for the Atlanta Braves. With Braves closers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano hitting the market, Frank Wren looked like he would have quite a task on his hand to secure the back of the 'pen. Nope. Within a couple of days after teams made their decisions on arbitration-eligible players, the Braves General Manager succeeded in his task to complete the bullpen. Here is the Braves' four main men in relieving next year: Peter Moylan: 2.84 ERA Eric O'Flaherty: 3.04 ERA Takashi Saito: 2.43 ERA Billy Wagner: 1.72 ERA With Soriano and Gonzalez, Atlanta would have had about the same quality closers at around $15 million; maybe even more. With Saito and Wagner with short-term commitments, the Braves are spending about $10 million. Well done, Mr. Wren. For all of you worried about the risk of having Billy Wagner's arm at the end of games, don't be. Before he went down with injuries, he was a fantastic closer as most of you can recall. For ...

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Braves bolster 'pen further with addition Saito

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:56:45 +0000

The Braves have made another move to strengthen their pitching staff, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito.

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Atlanta Braves agree to one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:47:59 +0000

The Braves have made another move to strengthen their pitching staff, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Takashi Saito.

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Sources: Braves, reliever Saito in serious talks

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 20:03:08 +0000

Free-agent reliever Takashi Saito is in serious discussions with the Braves, but no agreement has been reached, according to major-league sources.

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Source: Braves in discussions with reliever Saito

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:49:23 +0000

Free-agent reliever Takashi Saito is in discussions with the Braves, but no agreement has been reached, according to a major-league source.

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Saito, Braves reach one-year deal

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 19:14:00 +0000

The Braves are reportedly close to signing veteran reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year, $3 million contract.

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