NEW YORK (AP) — Star Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will be available to major league teams starting Tuesday Mike Napoli Jersey , with the New York Yankees expected to be among those interested.The 27-year-old Seibu Lions ace will have until Jan. 2 to sign a contract with a big league club. The Lions would then receive a posting fee based on the dollar amount of the pitcher’s contract.If Kikuchi doesn’t reach a deal with an MLB team, he remains with Seibu.Kikuchi was 14-4 with 3.08 ERA this season, and was 16-6 with a 1.97 ERA the previous year.Kikuchi, who played for the same high school as two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels Carlos Baerga Jersey , is 73-46 with a 2.77 ERA in eight seasons in Japan.Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said last month that he was aware of Kikuchi’s ability.“I saw film on him during the pro scouting meetings,” Steinbrenner said. “We talked about that individual. We’ve always been paying attention to that area of the world — some unbelievably great players came out of there. So it won’t be any different this year.” SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Madison Bumgarner’s $12 million contract option for the 2019 season has been exercised by the San Francisco Giants, keeping the 2014 World Series MVP and ace left-hander with the club for at least one more season after his past two years were shortened by injuries.The Giants on Monday also exercised third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s option for the $555,000 minimum.In April 2012 Yonder Alonso Jersey , Bumgarner signed a $35.56 million, six-year deal through 2017 that included $12 million club options for the 2018 and ’19 seasons.Bumgarner, 29, broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive from Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in his final spring training start. He returned to go 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 starts over 129 2/3 innings.MadBum missed nearly three months last year following a dirt bike accident during an off day in Colorado.Sandoval http://www.indiansfanproshop.c…..rez-jersey , the 2012 World Series MVP, is recovering from right hamstring surgery and didn’t play after July 29. His salary for next season will be offset against the $18 million he is still owed by Boston. He signed a $95 million, five-year deal with the Red Sox after the 2014 season and departed San Francisco.The Giants reinstated from the 60-day disabled list catcher Buster Posey, Sandoval Bradley Zimmer Jersey , right-handers Jeff Samardzija, Johnny Cueto and Julian Fernandez.