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Yasuhiko Yabuta | Relief Pitcher

Team: Kansas City Royals
Age / DOB:  (40) / 6/19/1973
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 185
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, former Royals pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta is returning to the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.
An official announcement is expected soon, according to Newman, but it is believed to be a one-year contract. Yabuta previously pitched with the Marines from 1996-2007, but signed with the Royals in November of 2007. The 36-year-old right-hander was a relative bust in the United States, posting a 7.14 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 43 appearances with Kansas City. Mon, Nov 23, 2009 09:07:00 AM
Source: NPB Tracker

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Player News

Date:
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Yasuhiko Yabuta has opted for free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals outrighted Yabuta on Monday in order to clear space on the 40-man roster, allowing the 36-year-old right-hander to declare himself a free agent. Yabuta was signed to a two-year, $6 million contract out of Japan before the 2008 season, but never found success in the majors, posting a 7.14 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 43 appearances.
Thu, Nov 12, 2009 05:53:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals declined RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta's $4 million option for 2010.

Easy choice for Dayton Moore. Yabuta, 36, was signed to a two-year, $6 million contract out of Japan before the 2008 season, but never found success in the majors, posting a 7.14 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 43 appearances. The Royals exercised a $500,000 buyout on his contract.
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 02:00:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals recalled RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta from Triple-A Omaha.

He was 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 26 games with Omaha, including 53 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. Yabuta, a Japan League import, posted a disappointing 4.78 ERA in 37 2/3 innings for the Royals in 2008. He will work out of middle relief.
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 04:56:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Yasuhiko Yabuta gave up three runs without ever retiring a batter Friday against the Rangers.

One wonders if the Royals will just go ahead and release Yabuta, even though he's still owed $3.5 million under the terms of his two-year, $6 million deal. He would have had a tough time winning a bullpen spot even if he had a strong spring, and he's allowed seven hits and three walks in three innings so far.
Fri, Mar 6, 2009 06:57:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals sent RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta and catcher Matt Tupman outright to Triple-A Omaha.

Yabuta could have opted for free agency, but he'll stick around and hope that year two in Kansas City goes better than his first season. The 35-year-old had a 4.78 ERA in 37 2/3 innings in 2008. The Royals still owe him another $3.5 million.
Mon, Nov 3, 2008 05:55:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals purchased the contract of RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta from Triple-A Omaha.

Yabuta had a 5.46 ERA in 31 1/3 innings for the Royals during the first three months. He was at 5.36 in Triple-A, suggesting that things aren't going to be any easier for him during his second stint in the majors.
Tue, Sep 2, 2008 12:12:00 AM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals designated RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta for assignment.

Yabuta had a 5.46 ERA in 31 1/3 innings before being sent down on June 25. There would likely be several teams interested in him at the minimum, but that he's still owed about $4 million through the end of 2009 should guarantee that he clears waivers.
Sat, Aug 2, 2008 02:04:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals optioned RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta to Triple-A Omaha.

Yabuta, who is in the first season of a two-year, $6 million contract, loses his roster spot to Robinson Tejeda after posting a 5.46 ERA in 31 1/3 innings. He was only truly bad in April -- 12 of the 19 earned runs he's allowed came then -- but he's never inspired much confidence since arriving.
Wed, Jun 25, 2008 06:49:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

According to the Kansas City Star, Yasuhiko Yabuta's spot in the bullpen could be in jeopardy once John Bale (shoulder) returns from the disabled list.

Yabuta has been awful thus far, but the Royals handed him a two-year deal worth $6 million this winter and had hoped he could be a late-inning setup man after plenty of success in Japan. Bale isn't likely to return before next week, at the earliest.
Related: John Bale
Source: Kansas City Star
Fri, May 2, 2008 09:56:00 AM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Yasuhiko Yabuta was charged with five runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief Friday against the A's.

It was bad, but it shouldn't have been that bad. After Hideo Nomo took over, Tony Pena Jr. completely bailed out on a routine pop fly, and it was called a hit because baseball scoring is ridiculous. Yabuta allowed just one hit before leaving -- an infield single -- but he walked four while getting two outs. His ERA stands at 10.12, so he's another candidate to be sent down to Triple-A when a starter is needed Sunday.
Sat, Apr 19, 2008 01:07:00 AM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Yasuhiko Yabuta took a loss in relief after giving up four runs in an inning Friday against the Rangers.

The lack of movement on Yabuta's fastball has allowed hitters to tee off on him so far this spring. We imagine that he'll mix in his changeup and forkball with greater frequency once the games begin to matter, but the Royals have to be a little nervous since he's currently sporting a 10.29 ERA.
Fri, Mar 14, 2008 08:10:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Yasuhiko Yabuta turned in a scoreless inning for the first time in three tries Monday against the White Sox.

Barely. Even with the wind blowing in from center, Brian Anderson's shot to center off the right-hander hit high off the wall for a double. Yabuta has given up three runs in three innings to date.
Mon, Mar 3, 2008 06:29:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

Royals signed RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta to a two-year contract with an option for 2010.

It's believed Yabuta is guaranteed about $6 million. The 34-year-old had a 2.80 ERA and a 147/49 K/BB ratio in 174 1/3 innings over his last three seasons in Japan. He'll pitch in the seventh and eighth innings for the Royals.
Wed, Nov 28, 2007 04:49:00 PM
Yasuhiko Yabuta - R - Royals

According to the Kansas City Star, Yasuhiko Yabuta is scheduled to undergo a physical later this week and will then sign with the Royals.

He's said to have agreed to a two-year deal worth around $6 million, with a team option for 2010.
Related: Royals
Source: Kansas City Star
Tue, Nov 27, 2007 10:36:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Salvador Perez
2George Kottaras
3Adam Moore
1B1Eric Hosmer
2B1Chris Getz
2Elliot Johnson
3Miguel Tejada
SS1Alcides Escobar
3B1Mike Moustakas
LF1Alex Gordon
CF1Lorenzo Cain
2Jarrod Dyson
RF1Jeff Francoeur
2David Lough
DH1Billy Butler
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1James Shields
2Jeremy Guthrie
3Ervin Santana
4Wade Davis
5Luis Mendoza
6Danny Duffy
7Felipe Paulino
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Greg Holland
2Aaron Crow
3Tim Collins
4Kelvin Herrera
5Luke Hochevar
6J.C. Gutierrez
7Bruce Chen
8Louis Coleman