Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Mon 7/13/20 2:09 PM

Tazawa signed a contract with an independent team in Japan on Monday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Tazawa has spent parts of nine seasons in the majors, but he spent the entire 2019 campaign in the minors. He spent time in the Reds' minor-league camp over the offseason, but he was unable to secure a spot within the organization and was released by Cincinnati in March. The 34-year-old will look to further his career with an independent league in Japan, potentially because of the rules regarding signing with an NPB team. Given his age and downturn in results, his MLB days could be over.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Thu 3/19/20 1:14 PM

Tazawa was released by the Reds on Thursday, Andersen Pickard of MLB Daily Dish reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran righty has spent parts of nine seasons in the big leagues, though the entirety of his 2019 campaign was spent at the Triple-A level with the Cubs and Reds. He owns a respectable 4.12 career ERA, but he hasn't recorded an ERA below 5.69 since 2016.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Wed 9/4/19 3:43 PM

Tazawa (undisclosed) debuted at Triple-A Louisville over the weekend and has made two appearances for the affiliate, covering three scoreless innings.
EDGE Analysis
Tazawa agreed to a minor-league pact with the Reds on Aug. 11 and reported to the Reds' rookie-level Arizona League affiliate while he was on the mend from the unspecified injury. His appearances with Louisville indicate that he's healthy again, but Tazawa may have returned too late to have a realistic chance at earning a callup to the Reds in September.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Wed 8/28/19 2:24 PM

Tazawa (undisclosed) began a rehab assignment with the Reds' rookie-level Arizona League affiliate, retiring two of the six batters he faced and giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits.
EDGE Analysis
Tazawa signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati on Aug. 11 but hadn't made his organizational debut until this week while tending to the unspecified injury. With the minor-league season nearing its end, Tazawa probably won't have enough time to prove his health and make a serious run at earning a September callup.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Sun 8/11/19 4:07 PM

Tazawa signed a minor-league deal with the Reds, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
He was assigned to Double-A Chattanooga and will begin on the injured list with an undisclosed injury, perhaps in order to give him time to get up to speed before he pitches in games. He had a 4.00 ERA in 19 appearances out of the bullpen with Triple-A Iowa prior to being released by the Cubs.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Fri 7/12/19 9:31 AM

Tazawa was released by the Cubs on Thursday, Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen reports.
EDGE Analysis
Tazawa was released after failing to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, but he quickly re-signed with the team on a reworked minor-league deal, only to be cut loose again. The 33-year-old has a 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB over 18 innings at Triple-A this season.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Tue 3/26/19 11:43 AM

Tazawa signed with the Cubs on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
The terms of the deal are not yet clear. Tazawa was released by the team on Saturday after failing to win a bullpen spot, but the team evidently liked him enough to keep him around at least as injury insurance.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Sat 3/23/19 5:37 PM

The Cubs released Tazawa on Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Though Tazawa failed to win a spot in the Cubs' bullpen, he could attract interest elsewhere around the league after turning in a dominant spring. Over 5.2 innings of Cactus League action, the 32-year-old righty gave up no runs and just two hits while striking out nine.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Sat 2/16/19 2:11 PM

Tazawa's arrival at Cubs' camp has been delayed due to visa issues, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The lost practice time won't help Tazawa make his case for an Opening Day roster spot, but his absence is unlikely to be a long one. He's expected to join the Cubs on Monday.

Junichi Tazawa
RP FA
Sat 1/26/19 12:14 PM

Tazawa agreed Saturday with the Cubs on a minor-league contract, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
The deal likely includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where Tazawa will have a chance to stake his claim to a spot in the Cubs' Opening Day bullpen. Tazawa has had limited success at the major-league level the past two seasons across stints with the Marlins, Tigers and Angels, compiling a 6.16 ERA and 7.1 K/9 over 83.1 innings.