The Blue Jays have a verbal agreement in place with Tomo Ohka on a minor league deal, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet (via Twitter). The Japanese pitcher, who last appeared in the big leagues in 2009, has reinvented himself as a knuckleball pitcher.
The 37-year-old may start at Double-A New Hampshire, according to Davidi. Earlier this offseason, we heard that the Orioles were among the clubs with interest, but it appears that he'll be going to another AL East team.
great move. hasnt pitched in the majors since ’09. mark Mulder will now have hope.
So Tomo Ohka as knuckleballer. I wonder if he still has at least some kind of a slider/cutter he used to have? As a batter, that would totally fool your eyes. Best of luck to him and the Jays.
May as well try him out. The knuckler worked for Dickey so hey, why not?
So that’s what they have been doing all offseason.
There’s a blast from the past.
OK, I’m convinced there is a fully functioning time machine in service right now…where are these guys coming back from?
Waiting for this sort of deal all off-season. About time we added another 37 year old minor league depth pitcher.
I’m back guys! And I brought knuckleball!
I haven’t pitched since high school, but with the pitching market the way it is, I think I could score a major league minimum deal with somebody.
I do like the idea of Jimenez getting some experience catching a knuckleball down in the minors.
makes sense
Its obviously a ploy to somehow get Tanaka
Yes, because all Japanese people are friends with each other.
Correctomundo.
Just to recap, we have Adam Kennedy trying to come back, Mark Mulder trying to come back, and a knuckleballing Tomo Ohka actually getting signed.
Happy 2005 everybody ! The announcement of the Kaz Ishii and Kirk Reuter comebacks should be happening any minute now.
Just looked at Ishii’s career numbers: the guy has walked 354 guys in 564 innings. No wonder his major league career wasn’t long!
Also, apparently Jamie Moyer is also trying to come back as a knuckleballer.
You sure it’s a knuckleball? His fastball was already slow enough to be one.
And the Mariners should be signing Phil Nevin any day now. They could use a 1B/DH type.
I’d like to see Chris Sabo attempt a comeback but only if he wore those lab goggles he had when he was with the Reds.
Not bashing this since it’s a minor league deal, but wow this one really came out of left field. Might as well sign Mark Mulder while you’re at it too.
It was reported a while back here that Ohka was going to attempt coming back as a knuckleballer. But I can see how one is startled at this if they missed that report.
Yeah I have nothing against the signing, it just came out of nowhere, especially not knowing the whereabouts and status of Ohka’s career.
John Thompson anyone?
I wonder what Eric Milton is up to these days…
pfft. i called this a day ago.
“Look at me! I’m Tomokazu Ohka of the Montreal Expos!”
– Bart Simpson
Who needs Tanaka?
Jamie Moyer is grinning at this news.
his stats in an independent league of Japan, as a knuckleballer
21G 7-7 111IPs 108Hits 6HRs 25Ks 59BBs 3.73ERA 1.50WHIP
That’s not a lot of Ks and a lot of BBs.
Where’s Jesse Litsch ?
Jenny Craig.
Recovering from yet another surgery.. latest is Thoracic outlet surgery.