The Red Sox have signed Japanese reliever Hideki Okajima to a two-year, 2.5 million dollar contract.

Now, I don't know anything about this guy (although some of the posters at this Japanese news page seem unimpressed), but the price seems pretty reasonable, at least compared to Baltimore's bullpen outlays.  Did the Indians have any interest in him?  Is he actually any good?

I hadn't realized until tonight that Zack Greinke has been called back up to the Royals for the first time this season.

I'm happy that the guy has seemingly worked through his psychological problems and is back pitching in the major leagues again.  I actually had hopes that the Indians could somehow get him for a song, but those chances are probably out the window, now that the Royals are under new management that appears to have a clue what they are doing.

Still, I don't understand why they are using ZG out of the bullpen.  As far as I know he's supposed to be a starter next year--he was starting in AA this whole summer--and it's not like the Royals' rotation is any great shakes right now....why not get him two or three big-league starts to build on?

First I want to say that I've been a regular LGT reader for several months, but this is my first ever post.  Hi everyone....hello....hi....hi....thanks, great to be here...

Now, my question is about Garko and how he compares to Colorado 1B prospect Ryan Shealy, who has been mostly blocked by one Todd Helton.  Actually from what I have read he has been major-league-ready for a while, and Colorado probably should have traded/moved him long ago if they planned to keep Helton.

Anyhow, I am pretty new to the whole science of evaluation of minor leaguers.  How does Garko compare to Shealy?  Which one is the better prospect?  Would it be worthwhile for the Tribe to try to get Shealy, and if so, how much would he cost us?