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So Taguchi | Outfielder

Team: Chicago Cubs
Age / DOB:  (43) / 7/2/1969
Ht / Wt:  5'10' / 169
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
College: Kansai Gakuin (Japan)
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Latest News

Recent News

The Orix Buffaloes of Japan have announced the signing of OF So Taguchi.
Taguchi put together a .272/.332/.385 line over eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Cardinals. The 40 year old's career highlight was likely his ninth inning home run off Billy Wagner of the Mets in the 2006 NLCS to propel St. Louis to its championship. He is expected to retire once finishing up his tenure with Orix. Sat, Jan 23, 2010 10:55:00 AM

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Player News

Date:
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, outfielder So Taguchi is close to signing with the Orix BlueWave of Japan's Pacific League.

Taguchi, 40, played 10 seasons with Orix before making his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2002. The Cubs released Taguchi in October after he was 3-for-11 (.273) as a September call-up. He compiled a .279/.332/.385 batting line in parts of eight major league seasons.
Source: NPB Tracker on Twitter
Sat, Jan 16, 2010 06:02:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Kyodo News reports a number of teams have shown interest in free-agent outfielder So Taguchi, according to his agent Alan Nero.

Hard to believe he was offered anything more than a minor league deal. The Cubs released the 40-year-old outfielder in October after he was 3-for-11 (.273) as a September call-up in 2009.
Source: Kyodo News
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 09:07:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Cubs released OF So Taguchi.

The 40-year-old hopes to stick another year in the majors, although he'll have to sign a minor league contract to do so and hope he plays his way into a spot. Taguchi would have been arbitration eligible had the Cubs not cut the cord.
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 08:35:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Cubs recalled outfielder So Taguchi from Triple-A Iowa.

The 40-year-old will fill a reserve role in the Chicago outfield after hitting .248 with four homers and 24 RBI at Triple-A. He's not worth using in NL-only leagues.
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 04:43:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

The Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs are calling up So Taguchi from Triple-A Iowa.

Taguchi, who is expected to arrive in time for Wednesday night's game, will primarily be a reserve and shouldn't be a consideration in NL-only leagues.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 01:21:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

The Cubs have reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with outfielder So Taguchi.

Assuming that Felix Pie is gone, Taguchi would battle Joey Gathright for a job as a reserve outfielder in spring training. However, it'd be one of those cases in which a team would much prefer to see the younger player win the job. Taguchi hit .220/.283/.297 in 91 at-bats for the Phils last year.
Related: Cubs, Felix Pie, Joey Gathright
Source: ESPN.com
Fri, Jan 16, 2009 12:17:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Phillies released outfielder So Taguchi.

Taguchi had just 91 at-bats despite spending the entire season on Philadelphia's roster and hit .220/.283/.297. He's 39 now, so if he wants to continue his career, he may have to do so back in Japan.
Wed, Nov 5, 2008 01:53:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Phillies declined outfielder So Taguchi's $1.25 million option for 2009.

Taguchi doesn't yet have six years of service time, so he's technically still on the Phillies' roster. He'll be non-tendered in December or released before then. Taguchi received $1.05 million from Philadelphia for hitting .220/.283/.297 in 91 at-bats. To illustrate just how the Phillies felt about him, he received all of one at-bat in September before getting a start on the final day of the season. He actually had three hits in that one. If the Phillies hadn't clinched already, he would have finished with a .198 average.
Tue, Nov 4, 2008 12:00:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Phillies signed outfielder So Taguchi, who had been with the Cardinals, to a one-year contract worth $1.05 million plus incentives.

The team also holds an option for 2009. Taguchi was cut loose by the Cardinals when they decided to decline his $1.1 million option for 2008, but he ends up making essentially the same money. He'll serve as the Phillies' fifth outfielder, with Jayson Werth being first in line should injuries strike a starter, and likely pushes Chris Snelling off the roster.
Related: Chris Snelling
Mon, Dec 24, 2007 09:45:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

The Phillies and So Taguchi have reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal with an option for 2009.

Chris Snelling would be more useful off the bench as a pinch-hitter, but the Phillies wanted some extra protection in center field and Taguchi might still be a better option there than Jayson Werth. Unless someone gets hurt, there probably won't be any room for Snelling now.
Related: Phillies, Chris Snelling
Source: Phillies.mlb.com
Sun, Dec 23, 2007 03:37:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Cardinals released outfielder So Taguchi.

The team previously declined Taguchi's $1.1 million option, though that didn't technically make him a free agent. He will be one if he clears release waivers. By making the move now, the Cardinals have a spot open for Thursday's Rule 5 draft.
Wed, Dec 5, 2007 11:58:00 PM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

Cardinals declined their $1.1 million option on So Taguchi for 2008, choosing to pay him a $100,000 buyout.

The Cardinals reportedly may still try to re-sign Taguchi. "We wanted to give ourselves as many options as we can, and by doing this we maintain a greater degree of flexibility," general manager John Mozeliak said. A solid backup outfielder who batted .290/.358/.368 in 2007, the 38-year-old Taguchi should have little problem finding a similar contract on the open market.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Tue, Nov 6, 2007 10:20:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

So Taguchi is still waiting to hear if the Cardinals will pick up his $1.1 million contract option for 2008.

"What can I say?" Taguchi said. "But nobody knows. I haven’t talked to anybody." Taguchi hit .290 in 307 at-bats as a 38-year-old for the Cardinals in 2007.
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch
Fri, Oct 26, 2007 07:35:00 AM
So Taguchi - OF - Cubs

So Taguchi was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBI on Wednesday.

Taguchi's 11th double of the year in the top of the second drove in a pair, doubling the Cards' lead to 4-0. He also drew his 11th walk and is up to 31 runs in 74 games.
Wed, Jul 18, 2007 10:04:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Welington Castillo
2Dioner Navarro
3Steve Clevenger
1B1Anthony Rizzo
2B1Darwin Barney
SS1Starlin Castro
3B1Luis Valbuena
2Cody Ransom
LF1Alfonso Soriano
2Ryan Sweeney
CF1David DeJesus
RF1Nate Schierholtz
2Scott Hairston
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Matt Garza
2Jeff Samardzija
3Edwin Jackson
4Scott Baker
5Scott Feldman
6Travis Wood
7Carlos Villanueva
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Kevin Gregg
2Kyuji Fujikawa
3Carlos Marmol
4James Russell
5Shawn Camp
6Hector Rondon
7Arodys Vizcaino
8Rafael Dolis