International players
The following former major leaguers signed deals to play internationally.
(Service times through Opening Day of player's most recent Major League season.)
Infielders
Tadahito Iguchi 2b
1 year/$3.85M (2008)
- 1 year/$3.85M (2008)
- signed by San Diego as a free agent 12/12/07
- $0.65M in performance bonuses
- released by San Diego 9/1/08
- signed by Philadelphia as a free agent 9/5/08
- 2 years/$4.95M (2005-06), plus 2007 club option
- signed as a free agent from Japan 1/05
- 05:$2.3M, 06:$2.4M, 07:$3.25M club option ($0.25M buyout)
- club exercised $3.25M 2007 club option 10/06
- acquired in trade (from Chicago White Sox) 7/27/07
- contract includes clause requiring club to sign Iguchi to an extension by sometime in 2007, or release him (effectively granting Iguchi free agency after three years of ML service)
- agent: Rocky Hall
- ML service: 3.000 (through 2007)
1 year (2009)
- 1 year (2009)
- re-signed by San Francisco as a free agent (minor-league contract)
- signed with Hiroshima of Japan's Central League 4/27/09 (contract worth 20 million yen, plus bonuses)
- 1 year (2008)
- contract purchased 9/1/08
- 1 year (2007)
- signed as a free agent for 2007 (minor-league contract)
- contract purchased 9/7/07
- sent outright to AAA 10/10/07
- 1 year (2006)
- signed as a free agent 12/05 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2005), contract purchased 8/05
- drafted 1990 (2-587)
- ML service: 0.116 (through 2008)
2007
- signed with Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League
- signed as a free agent 2/06 (Florida) (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2005)
- non-tendered 12/05
- contract purchased 10/04, re-signed 3/05
- ML service: 0.166
2006
- playing 2006 with Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan
- non-tendered 12/05
- DFA 6/05, contract purchased 6/05
- ML service: 0.000 (through 2004)
2 years/$3M (2007-08)
- signed with Lotte Marines of Japan 12/06
- free agent 11/06 after 3 years with Daiei Hawks of JPL
- signed 1992 as amateur free agent from Panama
- agent: Mike Nicotera
- ML service:
Outfielders
Larry Bigbie of
2008
- signed for 2008 with Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League
- 1 year (2007)
- signed as a free agent 2/07 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.9M (2006)
- avoided arbitration 12/05
- performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 500, 550 PAs
- released 11/06
- 1 year/$0.38M (2005), re-signed 2/05
- 1 year/$0.34M (2004), re-signed 2/04
- re-signed 2/03
- drafted 1999 (1-21)
- ML service: 4.098
1 year/$394,190 (2008)
- acquired by Nippon Ham Fighters 6/08
- DFA 4/29/08, sent outright to AAA 5/7/08
- 1 year/$0.382M (2007), re-signed 3/07
- 1 year/$0.328M (2006), re-signed 2/06
- 1 year (2005), re-signed 2/05
- drafted 1999 (46-1,375) (signed as draft & follow)
- ML service: 0.135 (through 2007)
2008
- signed with Hanshin Tigers 1/08
- 1 year/$0.985M (2007) (Minnesota)
- re-signed 2/07 (avoided arbitration, $1.3M-$0.8M)
- performance bonuses: $15,000 for 300 PAs; $25,000 each for 400, 450 PAs
- 1 year/$0.425M (2006), re-signed 3/06
- 1 year/$0.385M (2005), re-signed 3/05
- ML service: 4.104 (through 2007)
1 year (2007), plus 2008 club option
- signed with Yakult Swallows 1/07
- $0.25M signing bonus, 07:$0.65M, 08: club option
- 1 year/$0.35M (2006)
- non-tendered (by NY Yankees) 12/06
- claimed off waivers (from KC) after being DFA 7/06
- contract purchased 8/05
- 1 year/$0.345M (2005)
- 1 year/$0.32M (2004)
- ML service: 2.078 (through 2005)
1 year/$1M (2007)
- signed to play 2007 for Yomiuri Giants of Japan 12/06
- 1 year/$0.3462M (2006)
- non-tendered (by Tampa Bay) 12/06
- 1 year (2005), contract purchased 5/05
- drafted 1992 (4-117)
- ML service: 1.060
2005
- Washington sold rights for $0.3M to Chiba Lotte Marines of Japanese Pacific League 12/04
- ML service:
1 year/$0.675M (2005)
- rights sold to Yakult Swallos of Japanese Central League 12/05
- 1 year (2004) (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2003) (minor-league contract), signed 1/03
- ML service:
2004
- signed 12/03 with Nippon Ham Fighters of Pacific League
- 1 year/$0.6M (2003), plus $0.4M in incentives
- DFA 7/03
- $0.4M in incentives based on Plate Appearances
- signed as a free agent 1/03
- 1 year/$0.5M (2001), plus 2002-03 options
- Mets exercised 2002 option 11/01
- $0.2M buyout
- $0.3M in incentives
- signed as a free agent 12/00
- ML service: 2.000 (through 2003)
2 years (2008-09)
- signed with Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific League 11/07
- 1 year/$0.39M (2007) (San Diego)
- released 11/29/07
- re-signed 3/07
- 1 year/$0.3475M (2006), re-signed 2/06
- 1 year (2005), re-signed 2/05
- 1 year/$0.3M (2004) 2/04
- drafted 1999 (8-245), $7,500 signing bonus
- ML service: 2.061 (through 2006)
1 year (2006)
- contract sold to Chiba Lotte of Japanese League 5/06
- 1 year (2006), re-signed 2/06 (Oakland)
- 1 year (2005), re-signed 3/05
- ML service: 0.072
Catchers
Kenji Johjima c
3 years/$24M (2009-11)
- 3 years/$24M (2009-11)
- signed extension with Seattle 4/25/08
- 09:$8M, 10:$8M, 11:$8M
- Johjima exercised right to opt out of final two years of contract 10/17/09
- 3 years/$16.5M (2006-08)
- signed as a free agent from Japan 11/05
- $1M signing bonus
- 06:$5.1M, 07:$5.2M, 08:$5.2M
- limited no-trade protection
- award/performance bonuses may increase annual salaries to $5.5M
- Seattle also to provide:
- 12 first- or business-class airline tickets to Japan for Johjima & family for 2006-07
- use of interpreter for Johjima & his wife at home & on road
- English classes for his wife
- position for Johjima's personal trainer (Johjima to pay his salary)
- agent: Alan Nero
- ML service: 3.000 (through 2008)
Pitchers
Lance Carter rhp
1 year/$0.55M (2006)
- to sign with Orix Blue Wave 12/06
- 1 year/$0.55M (2006)
- filed for free agency 10/06
- sent outright to AAA (by LA Dodgers) 7/06
- acquired in trade (from Tampa Bay) 1/06 after being non-tendered & re-signing as a free agent 12/05
- 1 year/$0.361M (2005), re-signed 2/05
- 1 year/$0.32M (2004), re-signed 2/04
- 1 year/$0.3M (2003), re-signed 2/03
- ML service: 3.021
1 year/$0.2M (2007)
- signed with Hiroshima Carp 12/06
- 1 year/$0.337M (2006)
- elected free agency 10/06
- sent outright to AAA 5/06 after being DFA
- contract purchased 4/06
- signed as a free agent 11/05 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2005), signed 12/04 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.325M (2004)
- ML service: 1.007
2 years/$5M (2006-07)
- signed with Yakult Swallows of Japan's Central League 1/06
- 4 years/$12.3M (2002-05), plus 2006 & 2007 club options
- released 12/05 after Mets declined 2006 option 11/05
- $1.5M signing bonus
- 02:$0.5M, 03:$2.2M, 04:$2.6M, 05:$3.2M, 06:$3.25M club option ($2.2M buyout), 07:$4M club option ($1.1M buyout)
- Mets to pay 2005 salary, Dodgers to pay about $2M of $2.2M buyout
- $2.05M of 2005 salary deferred at 0% interest
- $0.15M annually in incentives (IP)
- NTC in 02, limited NTC 03-05
- $25,000 annual housing allowance
- 10 round-trip airline tickets home each season
- trainer, translator
- Dodgers paid $11,264,055 for negotiating rights 1 /02
- agent: Joe Urbon
- ML service: 3.000 (through 2004)
2006
- Mets sold rights to Hanwha Eagles of Korean League 3/06
- 1 year/$0.4M (2004), plus $2M 2005 club option
- 04:$0.4M (if on ML roster), 05:$M club option
- $0.7M in incentives
- DFA 9/05
- club declined 2005 option 3/06
- ML service: 0.000 (through 2004)
2 years/$2M (2009-10)
- 2 years/$2M (2009-10)
- 1 year/$410,689 (2008)
- re-signed by Texas 2/15/08
- sold by Texas to Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 11/20/08
- 1 year/$390,765 (2007), re-signed 2/07
- 1 year/$348,770 (2006), re-signed 2/06
- 1 year/$0.316M (2005), re-signed 2/05 (split contract)
- ML service: 2.117 (through 2007)
1 year (2009)
- 1 year (2009)
- signed by Kia Tigers of Korea
- 1 year/$0.42M (2008)
- re-signed by Detroit 12/07 (minor-league contract)
- contract purchased 3/30/08
- 1 year (2007)
- signed as a free agent for 2007 (minor-league contract)
- contract puchased 4/07, DFA 6/10/07
- contract purchased 8/11/07
- 1 year (2006)
- acquired by San Diego in trade from Philadelphia 3/06
- 1 year (2005)
- signed by LA Dodgers 1/05 (minor-league contract)
- contract purchased by Colorado 7/05
- claimed by Philadelphia off waivers 8/05
- sent outright to AAA 12/05
- 1 year/$0.318M (2004) (Toronto)
- DFA 9/04
- 1 year/$0.3M (2003)
- selected by Toronto from Seattle in Rule 5 draft 12/02
- ML service: 1.152 (through 2007)
1 year (2007)
- signed 1-year contract with Softbank Hawks of Japan 11/06
- 1 year/$0.5M (2006)
- signed as a free agent 11/05 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2005) (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.375M (2004), signed as a free agent 1/04
- DFA 6/04
- 1 year/$0.55M (2003)
- ML service: 6.072
1 year (2008)
- 1 year (2008)
- re-signed 12/07 (minor-league contract)
- contract purchased 5/4/08
- contract sold for $1M to Tohoku Rakuten of Japan's Pacific League 11/16/08
- 1 year/$384,523 (2007)
- signed 2/07
- non-tendered by NY Yankees 12/12/07
- 1 year (2006)
- re-signed 2/06
- claimed by NY Yankees off waivers from Washington 2/06
- 1 year (2005), re-signed 1/05
- drafted 2002 (2-46)
- $0.8M signing bonus
- ML service: 1.142 (through 2007)
1 year/$1.5M (2008)
- signed to play in South Korea 12/07
- 1 year/$1.2M (2007)
- granted free agency (by Tampa Bay) 10/07
- DFA 6/1/07, sent outright to AAA 6/11/07
- re-signed 10/06
- 1 year/$0.35M (2006)
- acquired in trade 6/06, with TB paying Dodgers $1M as part of deal
- 1 year (2005), re-signed 3/05
- re-signed 3 /04
- 1 year/$0.3M (2003) 2/03
- ML service: 3.053
1 year/$0.45M (2007)
- contract sold by Cleveland to Yakult of Japan Central League 5/17/07
- DFA 1/07, re-signed to minor-league contract
- $0.1M guaranteed ($0.2M salary in minors)
- 1 year (2006)
- acquired in trade after being DFA (by San Diego) 7/06
- contract purchased 5/06
- released 3/06, re-signed to minor-league contract
- 1 year/$0.5M (2006), plus incentives
- signed as a free agent 12/05
- $0.2M guaranteed
- $0.25M in incentives
- ML service: 1.014
1 year (2007)
- signed with Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of Japan 6/3/07
- contract purchased 5/10/07, DFA (by KC) 5/22/07
- DFA, sent outright to AAA 4/07
- contract purchased 4/07
- signed as a free agent 2/07 (minor-league contract)
- DFA, sent outright to AAA 1/07
- 1 year (2006), re-signed 2/06
- DFA, sent outright to AAA 3/06
- contract purchased 6/06
- claimed off waivers (by NY Mets, from Cincinnati) 11/06
- 1 year (2005)
- contract purchased, DFA 6/05
- signed as a free agent 11/04 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.3025M (2004), re-signed 2/04
- ML service: 2.049
2007
- signed with Nippon Ham Fighters 12/06
- 1 year/$0.335M (2006), contract purchased 4/06
- signed as a free agent 10/05 (minor-league contract)
- ML service: 0.073
1 year/$0.555M (2006)
- signed to play 2007 wiht Hanshin Tigers
- 1 year/$0.555M (2006)
- sent outright to AAA after being DFA 6/06
- re-signed 1/06 (avoided arbitration)
- $0.2M in performance bonuses
- $25,000 for 10 GS
- $30,000 each for 15 & 20 GS
- $40,000 for 25 GS
- $25,000 each for 45, 55 & 65 g
- 1 year/$0.332M (2005), re-signed 2/05
- 1 year/$0.3115M (2004)
- 1 year/$0.2125M (2002) 3/02
- ML service: 3.102 (through 2005)
2008
- 1 year (2008)
- signed as a free agent 11/13/07 (minor-league contract, $0.4M in majors)
- signed as a free agent 5/2/08 (minor-league contract)
- contract purchased 8/2/08, DFA 8/20/08
- contract purchased 9/1/08
- claimed by Toronto off waivers from Philadelphia 11/4/08
- released, sold to Japanese club 11/08
- 1 year/$0.39M (2007)
- signed by Chicago Cubs 10/14/06 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year (2006)
- signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 1/11/06 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.319M (2005) (Florida)
- 1 year (2004) (KC)
- 1 year/$0.3M (2003)
- signed by St. Louis 1/03 (split contract paying $50,000 in minors)
- claimed off waivers by KC from St. Louis 5/03
- DFA, sent outright to AAA 8/03
- drafted by St. Louis, 1998 (13-378) (University of Kansas)
- ML service: 0.053 (through 2007)
1 year/$1.25M (2007)
- signed with Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League 12/07
- 1 year/$1.25M (2007)
- sent outright to AAA (by NY Mets) (refused assignment 11/6/07)
- DFA 7/14/07, contract purchased 9/18/07
- re-signed 12/06 (avoided arbitration)
- $1.125M in performance bonuses based on relief appearances & starts
- $50,000 for 30 g relief, $75,000 for 40, $0.1M for 50, $0.15M for 60
- $50,000 for 10 GS, $0.1M for 15 GS, $0.15M for 20 GS, $0.2M for 25 GS, $0.25M for 30 GS
- award bonuses: $25,000 each for All Star selection, WS MVP or LCS MVP
- 1 year/$1.4M (2006), plus incentives
- acquired in trade (from Cincinnati) after being DFA 5/06
- acquired in trade (from Pittsburgh) 12/05 (Reds paying $1M of Sean Casey's $8.5M 2006 salary as part of the deal)
- 1 year/$1.4M (2006), plus incentives
- re-signed 10/05 (avoided arbitration)
- $40,000 for 160 IP or 50 g
- $60,000 for 180 IP or 60 g
- $0.125M for 200 IP
- 1 year/$0.33M (2005)
- re-signed 2/05 (split contract)
- 1 year (2004), re-signed 2/04
- 1 year/$0.3125M (2003)
- agent: David Pepe
- ML service: 4.015
1 year/$0.42M (2007)
- signed with Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League 12/07
- refused outright assignment (by Texas), elected free agency 10/16/07
- contract purchased 4/07
- re-signed as a free agent 12/06 (minor-league contract)
- 1 year/$0.35M (2006)
- non-tendered (by Texas) 12/06
- claimed off waivers (from KC) 10/06
- 1 year/$0.319M (2005), re-signed 2/05
- agent: Matt Sosnick
- drafted 2001 (10-311)
- ML service: 2.140