Francisco agreed to a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB on Tuesday. Francisco could not find work after opting out of his contract with the Rays at the end of spring training, so he will head overseas in an effort to improve his stock. Francisco hit 34 home runs over the last two seasons while playing for the Brewers, Braves, and Blue Jays, but he also struck out 254 times over that span.

Francisco has opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay and will become a free agent, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Francisco didn't make the major league roster and had an option to become a free agent rather than go to Triple-A. It seems unlikely he'll find another major league opening with another club, however.

Francisco has until Sunday to decide whether to accept an assignment to Triple-A Durham or use his opt-out clause, the Tampa Bay Tribune reports. Francisco didn't make the 25-man roster and looks set to play in the minors to begin the season even if he joins another organization.

Francisco was signed by the Rays on Saturday, Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports. He was non-tendered by the Red Sox earlier in the offseason, and will remain in the A.L. East for 2015. Francisco's strengths and flaws are pretty apparent at this point in his career. He is hopeless against lefties (.159 career average) and he has big-time power against righties (47 homers in 941 plate appearances). Look for him to get some starts at first base and DH when the Rays face a right-handed pitcher in 2015.

The Red Sox declined to tender Francisco a contract, Ben MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. This was merely a formality after the Red Sox designated Francisco for assignment last week, but the 27-year-old is now officially free to explore his other opportunities. Francisco smacked 16 homers in 2014 but went just 5-for-43 (.116 average) against lefties.

The Red Sox designated Francisco for assignment Tuesday, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. The team had to clear room on the 40-man roster with Hanley Ramirez's signing becoming official, and Francisco was the casualty. A waiver acquisition from Toronto, Francisco ended up spending less than a week in the Red Sox organization, and after he hit just .220/.291/.456 in 2014, the 27-year-old will likely have to settle for another minor league deal this winter.

Francisco was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. Francisco struggled in 2014 with Toronto, slashing just .220/.291/.456 in the majors while also spending time in the minors. It's unclear if he'll make Boston's major league roster for the start of the season, and he'll probably have to earn his way on through spring training.

Francisco is out of the lineup Friday against the Red Sox, Barry Davis of Sportsnet.ca reports. Francisco's playing time has completely dried up -- he has made just two starts since Aug. 19 -- with manager John Gibbons having handed the reins at third base over to Danny Valencia. The 27-year-old Francisco has clubbed 16 homers this year but is batting just .223 with a .295 OBP, so it's no guarantee he'll receive a major league contract in the offseason.

Francisco was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and one RBI in the Jays' loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon. He drove in Toronto's only run with a seventh inning sacrifice fly and added two hits in the game, but playing time has become more and more erratic as he continues to struggle at the plate. He will continue to be a power threat when in the lineup, but his exceptionally high strikeout rate will also continue to erode his batting average (.223) and likely cost him at bats.

Francisco is out of the lineup Saturday against the Rays. Saturday's absence will mark Francisco's third in a row, with two of coming against opposing right-handed pitchers. There has been no word of an injury, so it seems manager John Gibbons has just opted for an extended mental break for Francisco, who is 3-for-39 (.077 average) so far in August.