Jose Contreras may still pitch in Japan, but it probably won't be for the Softbank Hawks. According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, citing a Nikkan Sports report, the Hawks have moved on from Contreras, citing a roster crunch and uncertainty about what role he would play with the club.According to the report, SoftBank could re-consider Contreras in the event that imports Brian Falkenborg, D.J. Houlton and Justin Germano aren't retained or if the staff suffers an injury during the season.
It's hard to believe that Softbank would rather have three pitchers who combined for a 5.22 ERA in the majors as opposed to Contreras, so the Hawks may be hoping he'll bring his asking price down.
However, if negotiations have truly broken down, Contreras' next best bet may be with the Hiroshima Carp, based on the proximity to his son's school, though it is not known if they have interest.
Falkenborg was outstanding in middle relief last year, Houlton had a productive second season in Japan, and I guess SoftBank saw enough from Germano that they wanted to bring him back. I think it's defensible that Hawks would prioritize younger guys that they know well over an aging and inconsistent Contreras, even though I think he has some life left in his arm.
Hiroshima is, believe it or not, a hip and jumping town. Jose will doubtless discover okonomyaki, a very tasty local speciality, and gorge on Miyajima oysters. Why the oysters that come out of the waters around Hiroshima are so huge, I really have no idea, but they sure are good. The only thing about playing in that stadium that would bother me: just beyond center field you have a pretty clear view of the "bomb dome," the old trade center that stood exactly at ground zero, and the half-melted girders of its former crystal dome. I recall sitting there above and just off the the side of home plate and thinking that the contrast of the halcyon afternoon with its fresh air and lighthearted bonhomie and that macabre mnemonic aid across the street was a little...discomfiting, shall we say.
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