[NPB NOTEBOOK] Ex-MLB Pitcher Trevor Bauer Returns to the BayStars

Unable to find work with a team in Major League Baseball, former National Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer is rejoining the Yokohama DeNA BayStars for the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball season, the Central League club announced Monday, January 27.

The 34-year-old right-hander, who played for the BayStars in 2023, has agreed to a one-year contract worth around $6 million USD (nearly ¥930 million JPY), including incentives, according to Kyodo News.

Bauer will bolster a starting rotation as the 2024 Japan Series champions bid to repeat and capture their first CL pennant in 27 years.

"He's a big piece on the team," BayStars manager Daisuke Miura said, according to Kyodo News. "I expect him to be in the starting rotation throughout the season."

Bauer posted an 83-69 record with a 3.79 ERA in 222 Major League Baseball games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bauer Pitched for BayStars in 2023

The 2020 NL Cy Young winner joined the BayStars in 2023 after being suspended for a record 194 games for violating MLB's domestic violence and sexual assault policy.

Bauer went 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 games for DeNA before leaving Japan to seek a new MLB contract. He spent the 2024 season with the Mexican Baseball League's Diablos Rojos and was named the league's pitcher of the year after going 10-0.

There is no doubt Bauer has much to offer in terms of pure pitching talent. Yokohama decided prior to his first stint with the team that any baggage he carries was not a concern.

Bauer, who was never arrested nor criminally charged, has unequivocally denied any wrongdoing.

He will join a potentially crowded rotation that could also include former major leaguers Andre Jackson and Anthony Kay who performed well last season for the BayStars after Bauer departed.

Iwase is a Deserving Hall of Famer

When Ichiro Suzuki was announced as one of the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday, January 16, it was natural that he got the lion's share of the attention from the media and the fans.

But somewhat lost in the attention focused on Ichiro was the fact that former Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase was also announced as a member of the Hall of Fame.

The 50-year-old Iwase is NPB's career leader in saves with 407 and mound appearances with 1,002.

Iwase Thrived Under Pressure

One of those mound appearances was very memorable.

It came in the deciding Game 5 of the 2007 Japan Series at Nagoya Dome when the Dragons took on the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

The Fighters won the first game by a score of 3-1 at Sapporo Dome. Chunichi, managed by Hiromitsu Ochiai, then won the next three games, meaning they could wrap up the title with a win at home.

Nagoya starter Daisuke Yamai was working on a perfect game through eight innings, when Ochiai, to the shock of everyone in attendance and watching on TV, gave the ball to Iwase to pitch the ninth with Chunichi holding down a slim 1-0 lead.

Iwase retired the side, touching off wild celebrations at Nagoya Dome as Chunichi won the Japan Series.

Speaking on a recent edition of TBS's "Sunday Morning" Ochiai recalled how difficult the decision was and how happy he was that Iwase came through for him and got those three outs.

It's not easy to take the ball away from a pitcher working on a perfect game, let alone in the Japan Series.

New-Look Tigers

The Hanshin Tigers will have a distinctly new look this season.

In addition to new manager Kyuji Fujikawa, the Tigers will have at least four new foreign imports vying for a spot on the roster.

On Thursday, January 30, the Tigers introduced new imports Nick Nelson and Jon Duplantier.

Both are pitchers and former major leaguers. 

Right-hander Nelson pitched most recently with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2022 to 2024. He has a win-loss record of 5-4 with a 5.20 ERA and 120 strikeouts.

Duplantier, also a righty, pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 and 2021. He is 1-4 with a 6.70 ERA and 46 strikeouts.

A day earlier, the Tigers introduced new imports Jean Arnaez and Ramon Hernandez.

Arnaez is an infielder from Panama who spent time in the minor leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays organization while Hernandez is a corner infielder who played in the D-Backs organization.

RELATED:

• New Japanese Baseball Travel Guide is a Useful Reference for Fans
• BayStars Manager Miura Says NPB Teams Should Accept Losing Players to MLB with a Positive Attitude
• [NOTES on a SCORECARD] For Trevor Bauer, a Quick Return to MLB Looks Increasingly Unlikely

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.