The Boston Red Sox signed left-handed Japanese reliever Hideki Okajima to a two-year, US$2.5 million contract on Thursday.
The deal includes a US$1.75 million team option for 2009.
Boston general manager Theo Epstein said he envisioned Okajima as a setup man and occasional pitcher against left-handed batters.
If the Red Sox sign countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka, the two pitchers can ease each other's move to the US.
Okajima, a 12-year veteran in Japan, was signed "on the merits" of his ability, Epstein said.
"He's going be a valuable member of our bullpen. But, if we do end up with two Japanese pitchers, that certainly would help the assimilation process, not only on the field, but also off the field," Epstein said.
Boston has until Dec. 14 to sign Matsuzaka, the ace of the Seibu Lions and MVP of this year's World Classic. The Red Sox bid US$51.1 million in the posting process for the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka but pay only if they sign him.
Okajima's agent, Anthony Nakanishi, said fans in Japan believe Boston will sign Matsuzaka.
"I'm sure they do," Nakanishi said. "Matsuzaka requested to be posted. It was his desire to come over to the [US] so I'm sure that they can work something out."
Epstein did not comment on the status of talks with Matsuzaka.
Okajima spoke through an interpreter after making an opening remark in English: "My name is Hideki Okajima, and I like Boston," he said. "Call me Okaji."
He got his first in-person look at Fenway Park before reaching the agreement and visited the seats behind the Green Monster in left field.
"He stood up on the top of the wall and it was a great view," Okajima said through interpreter Masai Takahashi, the trainer for Boston's Double-A team in Portland.
The 30-year-old Okajima was 2-2 with a career-low 2.14 ERA and four saves in 55 games last season with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of the Pacific League. He was traded to the Fighters in March after 11 seasons with the Central League's Yomiuri Giants, then became a free agent after the season.
In his 439 Japanese major league games, he has a 34-32 record with a 3.36 ERA and 41 saves.
"We have some holes in our bullpen and we're excited to fill one today," Epstein said.
He said Okajima has a very good overhand curveball, a good fastball and a forkball that's tough on right-handed hitters. He has 681 strikeouts with 295 walks in 642 innings.
Craig Shipley, the Red Sox vice president for international scouting, said he began following Okajima last year.
Nakanishi said more than five teams expressed interest and several made late offers that were more lucrative, but the Red Sox "consistently stayed on him. They were the first club to make an offer."
Okajima became a free agent after last season and said he never thought about leaving Japan through the posting process.
He credited playing for one year under the Fighters US manager Trey Hillman with his improvement last season.
Okajima "really felt more comfortable under him than the previous team," the pitcher said through his interpreter.
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