Mench Done in Japan

The Hanshin Tigers’ experiment with former Major Leaguer Kevin Mench is already over.  Mench got off to a horrendous, injury-plagued start, hitting only .148 (eight for 54) with no HRs. 

Japanese teams have little patience for high-priced, slumping American players.

However, Mench’s failure may have a silver lining for the Tigers.  Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker reports that the Tigers have agreed on contract terms with Craig Brazell, who hit .234 with 27 HRs for the Seibu Lions last year.  Brazell was hitting .581 with four HRs in 31 ABs for the St. Paul Saints of the Independent A American Association. A spring training invite from the Baltimore Orioles did not result in a job.

Signing Brazell is a much better move for the Tigers than the Mench signing.  Brazell is 29 this year, two years younger than Mench, and he now has a year (and a decent one) of NPB experience under his belt.  Brazell also hit .307 with 32 HRs for Omaha in the AAA Pacific Coast League in 2007.