Trey Hillman has left Japanese baseball to join the Royals. Could a Japanese pitcher be on his way as well? Reports circulated during the weekend that the Royals were negotiating with free agent Yasuhiko Yabuta, a right-handed reliever from the Japan League. Ken Rosenthal reported on FOXSports.com that sources indicated that the Royals "are close to signing" Yabuta to a two-year contract with a player option for a third year. Royals' GM Dayton Moore said he couldn't comment on "any pending negotiations" with any free agent.