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MAJOR LEAGUE: Japanese reliever Fukumori signs for the Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers introduced Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori on Friday after the sides agreed to a US$3 million, two-year deal that includes a team option for 2010.

While Fukumori knows little English, he introduced himself and said: "Call me Kaz."

The right-handed pitcher said he moved to the US for a new challenge.

"A lot of Japanese players are currently playing in the major leagues," Fukumori said through a translator. "I had heard from everybody that I should challenge myself in the majors. That's why I came."

The 31-year-old Fukumori has pitched 13 seasons in Japan, the first nine with the Yokohama BayStars, one year with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the last three with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He has a 34-42 career record with a 3.72 ERA and 72 saves in 377 games (47 starts). He was exclusively a reliever the last five seasons.

"What really stood out to us about Kaz is makeup," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "We feel he has the right temperament, the right character to succeed ... He's got the traits we look for, guys that want the ball, guys that are not afraid, guys that throw strikes and attack the zone."

Fukumori was 4-2 with 17 saves and a 4.75 ERA in 34 games last season for the Golden Eagles. His season was shortened when he had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, but he has been rehabilitating at home and expects to be ready for opening day.

Fukumori, who has thrown off a mound since his surgery, completed a physical for the Rangers on Wednesday.

"He only took four to six weeks off and was throwing again. It was a very minor procedure," Daniels said.

The Rangers have not determined if they will use Fukumori as a setup reliever or a closer. Fukumori said he will do whatever manager Ron Washington wants.

"I was a closer in Japan," he said. "Everybody was depending on me to win the game and that's what made me fearless."

Left-hander C.J. Wilson (2-1, 12 saves in 66 appearances) became the primary closer for Texas after Eric Gagne was traded to Boston on July 31. The Rangers talked to Gagne again before he signed with Milwaukee this month.

The Rangers this week declined to offer a contract to reliever Akinori Otsuka, making him a free agent.

Otsuka had 32 saves last year for Texas.
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