Alex

Ochoa

Just in case you were wondering, Ochoa won’t be returning to the U.S. The 32-year-old hit .298 with 21 homers and 89 RBI in 138 games for the Dragons last season.

Ochoa hit .294 with 21 HR and 65 RBI in 137 games for the Dragons last season.

Ochoa will receive a one-year, $2 million contract with $500,000 in incentives.

Ochoa has an out clause in his minor league contract with the Cardinals that allows him to leave the team in order to play in Japan. He is expected to get a one-year contract worth at least $2 million from Chunichi. Since he’s not on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, he won’t have to clear waivers.

Ochoa is both better and younger than Orlando Palmeiro, so it doesn’t make much sense that he’s the one getting the minor league contract. He should make the Cardinals and be a valuable reserve

Ochoa, 34, will give the majors another try after hitting .283/.350/.445 in four seasons in Japan. Interestingly, he was the player the Chunichi Dragons signed in 2003 after the Kevin Millar fiasco with the Red Sox. Ochoa is a .279/.344/.422 hitter in 2,107 at-bats as a major leaguer, but since he’s clearly on the decline now, he’s a fifth outfielder at best. The Red Sox shouldn’t have need of him.

The Red Sox would just soon not need him, but he’s still a fine defender and he’d probably hit lefties fairly well given the chance. As a fifth outfielder, he could prove useful.

Ochoa impressed on defense, but he hit just .235/.297/.353 in 34 at-bats. He has the option of becoming a free agent if he’d like.

Ochoa accepted an assignment to Triple-A after being one of the Red Sox’s final spring cuts, but hit just .138 at Pawtucket. Fellow veteran outfielder Michael Tucker replaced him on the roster.