- Oct 16, 2026
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The San Diego Padres agreed to a minor league contract with Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Nogami, it was reported Saturday.
Nogami offers an array of pitches that has drawn interest, according to Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball. The hurler could land an invitation to Spring Training, Zdunich added. San Diego faced a shortage of young, controllable arms after trading away pitchers during the season. Nogami will be brought along by pitching coach Ruben Niebla.
Elsewhere in the organization, Alex McCoy has generated buzz in the Arizona Fall League by hitting well at the minor league level, per Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball. Bell flagged him as a swing-and-miss candidate.
Ethan Salas reached the majors with San Diego late in 2026 but faces no certainty of opening 2027 as the starting catcher.
In the ALCS, the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 on October 18, 2026, knotting the series at 2-2.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).