Staying in MLB in 2006?

Nomo is a 6 year minor league free agent, Takatsu is a free agent, Hasegawa is a free agent, Kaz Matsui is still with the Mets, and Yabu was let go by the A's. [Minor League Baseball - Free Agents]

What do you mean by the 6 year deal for Nomo? Does it mean that Nomo is still in the Yankees minor system?

And will Hasegawa and Takatsu be back in Japan?

- What do you mean by the 6 year deal for Nomo? Does it mean that Nomo is still in the Yankees minor system?

Minor league players not on a 40-man roster become a free agent if they were 6 or more years removed from the end of their first minor league season or if their contract wasn't renewed by their current club. [More Info - MLB4U]

In this case, Nomo became a 6 year minor league free agent because of 6 years of professional experience. It also means, to my best knowledge, Nomo isn't with the Yankees organization any more.

- And will Hasegawa and Takatsu be back in Japan?

Hasegawa is a free agent who was let go by Seattle, and Takatsu is also a free agent. So far the Mets have yet to give a sign on what they plan on doing with Takatsu for 2006. As for them pitching in Japan next year, I don't have any idea.

Thank you, because I feel that Nomo is a good pitcher and I hope that he can finish his career in MLB.

I believe I read some where that Nomo intends to finish his career in MLB and doesn't plan on coming back to NPB, although I can't remember where I read it.

Nomo has said numerous times that he has no intention of returning to the NPB. It has to stem from his departure from the NPB, when Don Nomura found a loophole in the system and his falling out with former Kintestu manager Keishi Suzuki.

There's more about Nomo in the Robert Whiting book "The Meaning of Ichiro" on why Nomo left Japan.

Keiichi Yabu was declined!

At this point, after some early speculation, there is no serious talk of Nomo coming back. The guy is just flat out done.

It was interesting to see that nobody picked Yabu up yet. Rakuten could sure use him.

Yakult signed Masao Kida. He did fairly well at Tacoma last season, but just how much does he have left in the tank? I guess we'll find out.

I feel that Yabu should go to a team like Seattle because he can be a starter or a long innings reliver.