Tsutsugo signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Tsutsugo spent all of last season in the minors, slashing .260/.401/.457 with 44 RBI across 279 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers' and Giants' organizations. The 32-year-old has just a .630 OPS in his MLB career, but a good spring and a hot start in the minors could earn him another chance in the bigs.
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Giants' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Nabs MiLB deal from Giants
Rotowire
Tsutsugo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Giants on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After opting out of his minor-league deal with the Rangers in late June, Tsutsugo sat on the open market for nearly two months before finding work with the Giants. Due to the long layoff, Tsutsugo could first report to the Giants' spring training facility in Arizona before likely settling at Triple-A Sacramento, where he'll hope to perform well enough to make a case for a late-season promotion to the Giants. Over 208 plate appearances with Texas' Triple-A affiliate at Round Rock this season, Tsutsugo slashed .249/.380/.432 with six home runs and two stolen bases.
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Yoshi Tsutsugo: Opts out of deal
Rotowire
Tsutsugo opted out of his minor-league contract with the Rangers and became a free agent Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tsutsugo signed a minor-league deal with Texas in the offseason and failed to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training. The 31-year-old infielder is slashing .249/.380/.432 in Triple-A this season and has historically been successful in the minors, so he figures to have no problem securing at least a minor-league deal from another club.
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Rangers' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Told he won't make team
Rotowire
Tsutsugo has been informed he will not make the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tsutsugo's bid for a roster spot wasn't helped -- through no fault of his own -- by visa issues leading to a late start. The Rangers surely would like him to stick around at Triple-A Round Rock, but Tsutsugo likely has an opt-out decision.
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Rangers' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Reports to camp
Rotowire
Tsutsugo reported to MLB camp Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Tsutsugo had issues with his visa, but those have been cleared up and the 32-year-old is now in Arizona. Signed to a minor-league contract in January, Tsutsugo will have an uphill battle in trying to win one of the final spots on the Rangers' bench over the next month.
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Rangers' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Yet to report due to visa issues
Rotowire
Tsutsugo has yet to report to Rangers camp because of visa issues, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Tsutsugo was probably already a long shot to win a bench job as a non-roster invitee, and any chances he had might be out the window now with his late start. Once his visa problems are resolved, he should begin the season at Triple-A Round Rock.
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Rangers' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Heading to Texas
Rotowire
Tsutsugo signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers as a non-roster invitee Sunday.
Tsutsugo appeared in 50 major-league games with the Pirates last year but hit just .171 with two homers, 19 RBI and 11 runs. He had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays over the final few months of the season and will attempt to carve out a role with the Rangers during big-league spring training in 2023.
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Blue Jays' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Signs MiLB deal with Toronto
Rotowire
Tsutsugo signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Tsutsugo hit just .171 with two home runs, 19 RBI and 11 runs over 50 games with the Pirates earlier this year prior to being released in early August. However, he'll now have a chance to carve out a role at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Yoshi Tsutsugo: Released by Pirates
Rotowire
Tsutsugo was released by the Pirates on Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
He slashed .171/.249/.229 with two home runs in 50 games before being designated for assignment. It wouldn't be surprising to see Tsutsugo return to Japan, as he has never been able to establish himself stateside after originally signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Rays before the 2020 season.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Tsutsugo was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Tsutsugo had inconsistent playing time for the Pirates over the last few weeks, and he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster after hitting .171 with two home runs, 19 RBI and 11 runs over 50 major-league games to begin the year. It's not yet clear whether he'll remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers, but Tucupita Marcano will take his place on the active roster.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Sits versus righty
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.
The Pirates often shield the lefty-hitting Tsutsugo from southpaw pitchers, but he'll take a seat Tuesday with right-hander and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes taking the hill for Milwaukee. Josh VanMeter and Bligh Madris will serve as the Pirates' first baseman and designated hitter, respectively, while Tsutsugo sits after producing a .158/.172/.175 slash line in 15 games since he returned from the injured list in early July.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Late addition to lineup
Rotowire
Tsutsugo will start at first base and bat eighth Sunday against the Phillies.
Tsutsugo was originally absent from Sunday's lineup but will end up starting with Ke'Bryan Hayes scratched with a knee injury. Tsutsugo is 2-for-19 with three RBI and nine strikeouts in five games since the All-Star break.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Remains on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Tsutsugo is 2-for-19 with three RBI and nine strikeouts to open the second half, and he finds himself on the bench Sunday for the fourth time in the past five games. Cal Mitchell will serve as the designated hitter while Bligh Madris starts in right field.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Riding pine Saturday
Rotowire
Tsutsugo isn't starting Saturday against Philadelphia.
Tsutsugo started Friday and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and he'll head to the bench for the third time in the last four games. Ben Gamel is serving as the designated hitter while Bligh Madris starts in left field.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Day off Thursday
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Phillies.
Tsutsugo will head to the bench Thursday for a second game in a row. Cal Mitchell will take over at designated hitter while Bligh Madris enters the lineup in right field and bats fifth in the series opener.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Sitting Tuesday
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Cubs.
Tsutsugo will get a day off after going 2-for-15 with three RBI and six strikeouts over the last four contests. Ben Gamel will slot in as the designated hitter while Greg Allen enters the lineup in left field.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Idle against lefty
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
With Colorado bringing southpaw Austin Gomber to the hill on Sunday, the lefty-hitting Tsutsugo will hit the bench for the second time in the series. Michael Chavis checks in for Tsutsugo at first base.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Tsutsugo will be on the bench Friday against the Rockies, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Tsutsugo's off days typically come against lefties, but he'll sit here against righty German Marquez. He'll miss out on the opportunity to pad his numbers at Coors Field, though his .182/.271/.252 season slash line needs more than just a little padding. Josh VanMeter will get the start at first base.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Tsutsugo will sit Monday against the Marlins.
Tsutsugo will take a seat again Monday as the Pirates take on left-hander Trevor Rogers. Michael Chavis will start at first base and bat third against the Marlins.
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Pirates' Yoshi Tsutsugo: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Tsutsugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Milwaukee.
Tsutsugo will take a seat after he went 5-for-19 with a double and a run scored while starting in five of the Pirates' six games since he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. With southpaw Eric Lauer on the mound for Milwaukee, the lefty-hitting Tsutsugo will give way to the righty-hitting Michael Chavis at first base.
