Sox Find Bullpen Help In Japan - Okajima Signs Two-Year Deal

BOSTON - The Red Sox agreed to terms with a Japanese pitcher Thursday. No, it wasn't Daisuke Matsuzaka. But for a team trying to reconstruct its bullpen, the arrival of reliever Hideki Okajima was greeted warmly at Fenway Park.

Okajima, a lefthander with 11 years experience in the Japanese League, agreed to a two-year contract worth $2.5 million, with a $1.75 million team option for 2009. Okajima, who turns 31 Christmas Day, was the primary setup man last season for the Nippon Ham Fighters, who won the Japan Series championship.

Okajima, who goes by the nickname "Okaji," became an unrestricted free agent a week after the Japan Series, and the Red Sox beat out at least five other teams to sign their 2007 lefty specialist.

"This was a good time for him to come over to the States to play in the big leagues," said Red Sox trainer Masai Takahashi, who served as interpreter at a press conference Thursday at Fenway Park. "He doesn't have much knowledge about the city of Boston or the Red Sox. He came here a couple of days ago and really liked it."

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein left open the possibility of Okajima taking an expanded role in the bullpen, but he will primarily be called to face tough lefty hitters such as the Yankees' Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui, who was Okajima's teammate on the Yomiuri Giants when the Giants won the Japan Series in 2000 and 2002.

Okajima was 2-2 with a 2.14 ERA last season. He had four saves in 542/3 innings with 63 strikeouts and 14 walks. In 2001, Okajima had 25 saves for the Giants. He is 34-32 with a 3.36 ERA and 41 saves for his career.

"We were looking for a more established left-handed reliever," Epstein said. "This gives us somebody who has a lot of experience, pitching at a high level in Japan. Hideki has a very good overhand curveball. He's had great success in Japan in a setup role, and he can help us in the setup capacity as well as a left-handed specialty role, depending on the game situation."

Epstein downplayed any connection between Okajima's signing and the Matsuzaka negotiations. The Red Sox have until Dec. 14 to sign Matsuzaka.

"We made this move on the merits," Epstein said. "He's going to be a valuable member of our bullpen. But if we do end up with two Japanese pitchers, then certainly it will help the assimilation process, on and off the field."

Spearheaded by the efforts of Red Sox vice president for international scouting Craig Shipley and Pacific Rim scouting director Jon Deeble, the Red Sox moved quickly to sign Okajima, even as other teams made late bids. Shipley began scouting Okajima in 2005.

"There were other clubs thatcame in at the last minute and offered more money," said Okajima's agent, Anthony Nakanishi. "But the Red Sox consistently stayed on him. They were the initial club to make an offer and they made this whole negotiation very interesting. They're very serious about Japanese baseball. [Okajima's] happy here and he likes the city. They envision him as more than just a left-handed situational guy, so we're happy with that."

Okajima met Red Sox manager Terry Francona Thursday, then toured his new park, including a visit atop the Green Monster, often a scary sight for left-handed pitchers.

"He stood on top of The Wall and it was a great view," Takahashi said.