Yanks deal Rasner to Japanese club

11/15/08 9:19 PM EST
Yanks deal Rasner to Japanese club
Righty, who spent most of 2008 in rotation, requested trade

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

The New York Yankees obliged Darrell Rasner's wishes by selling his contract to a team in Japan's Central League for $1 million, according to a Saturday night report by ESPN.com.

Rasner, a 27-year-old right-hander who spent much of the 2008 season in the Yankees' rotation but wasn't perceived to be in the team's 2009 plans, was sold to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, with whom he is expected to soon sign a two-year contract.

Rasner's agent, Matt Sosnick, told ESPN.com that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman "really bent over backwards to make this work for Darrell and his family."

Rasner made 20 starts last season for the Bombers, going 5-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 113 1/3 innings.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bye bye Razzling rasner..