Spring camps begin for the 12 Japan pro baseball teams in just 10 days, and there has been a flurry of activity in the past week with the Central and Pacific League clubs signing new-and second-hand-foreign players and finalizing rosters for the coming season. Following is a team-by-team update on the non-Japanese names appearing on the lists, as of Jan. 20:
Chiba Lotte Marines -- Manager Bobby Valentine is back to defend his Japan Series championship with fellow American coaches Tom Robson and Frank Ramppen.
Holdover players are outfielders Matt Franco, Benny Agbayani and Val Pascucci, and joining is pitcher Kevin Beirne from the Orix Buffaloes.
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