Taguchi signs 1-year contract with Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies announced Sunday the major league club
has signed a one-year contract with Japanese outfielder So Taguchi.

According to sources close to the deal, Taguchi will make
$900,000 plus incentives in 2008 while the Phillies have a club
option for 2009.

The 38-year-old Taguchi was released earlier this month by the
St. Louis Cardinals after spending the last six seasons with the
National League club.

''The Phillies won the division title (in the National League
East) this year and I think I can help them with what I'm capable of
doing,'' Taguchi told reporters in Japan.

''Manager (Charlie) Manuel knows the style of Japanese baseball
very well and I believe it'll make things easier for me,'' Taguchi
said, referring to Manuel's six-year playing career in Japan through
1981 with the Yakult Swallows and Kintetsu Buffaloes.

A former Orix BlueWave player in Japan's Pacific League, Taguchi
began his major league career in 2002 with the Cardinals after
signing a free agent deal. The veteran, who can play all three
outfield positions, has a .283 career average in 578 major league
games with 19 homers and 154 RBIs.

His career highlight thus far in the majors came in the 2006
postseason when he hit a go-ahead homer in the National League
Championship Series against the New York Mets. The Cardinals went on
to win the World Series.

This year, Taguchi hit .290 with three homers and 30 RBIs with
the Cardinals. The Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and San Francisco
Giants had reportedly shown interest in him since he was released.

[Full Article: http://www.japanball.com/news.phtml?id=11407]