Given that every other Japanese pitching prospect, according to ESPN, is headed for or is expected to offered by the Boston Red Sox, we figure its only a matter of time before Buster Olney breaks the news..

"Unnamed sources close to the Boston Red Sox have reportedly met with representatives of Eri Yoshida and a contract offer is considered immenient.  Other teams are reportedly interested"

And of course, the "other" teams in on the  Japanese pheom will of course include the Braves, Yankees, Seattle and Detroit.

Why Detroit..  I have no clue.  But since they were in on the Tazawa rumor, why not include them in this time too.

Of course..  ESPN won't give credit to the original source...   and if it turns out to be false (like this made up report) they won't acknowledge that either..   Kobe to Pistons..   UM hires Les Miles..   hello...

So anyhow..  about the girl.  Yoshida is a 16-year-old schoolgirl with a mean knuckleball has been selected in a draft for the new Kansai Independent Baseball League, making her the first woman ever to play together with the men in Japanese professional baseball.

Eri Yoshida was drafted for a new independent league that will launch in April, drawing attention for a side-armed knuckler that her future manager Yoshihiro Nakata said was a marvel.

“I never dreamed of getting drafted,” Yoshida told reporters Monday, a day after she was selected to play for the Kobe 9 Cruise.

With a side-armed knuckleball in her arsenal, Yoshida took part in a tryout held earlier this month and passed with flying colors.

“I wanted to shine in baseball and aimed to become a professional player,” said a Yoshida. “My mind has gone blank but I’m happy.” Erin says she wants to follow in the footsteps of the great Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield.

The right-hander held male batters hitless for one inning in the final tryout and her successful outing helped her become one of the 33 players picked in the draft.

Yoshida, who attends Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki Kita High School, has showed interest in joining the team, and is set to begin negotiations over her schooling environment and other issues.