The Red Sox and reliever Hideki Okajima have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reports Ian Browne of MLB.com (via Twitter). Okajima will make $2.75MM and will receive bonuses of $50K each for 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 appearances, according to Browne in a follow-up tweet. The deal marks a significant raise for the lefty as he earned a base salary of $1.25MM last season.
In 2009, Okajima posted a 3.39 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 68 games. The 34-year-old is entering his fourth major league season and will be under the BoSox contractual control until 2012.
Ouch. Having those bonuses for number of appearances seem just a little scary. Wouldn’t want him stretching himself to get that last 50k or something, right? Just sayin…otherwise, this is a great thing for the Sox. Gotta keep Okie around!
I don’t see him being overused this year with our depth in pitching and the return of long relief.
I don’t see him being overused this year with our depth in pitching and the return of long relief.
Good news. Thats a virtual bargain for a guy like him.
Hmmm, that’s odd. I just assumed that Okie had a deal similar to other Japanesse imports where his contral and salary were predetermined.
Excellent signing for the Sox. I’m curious what other lefty will join him in the bullpen this year (Fabio Castro, Dustin Richardson, or Brian Shouse).
Okajima needs to retire with the Red Sox. He’s been great since the day he signed here.
Okajima needs to retire with the Red Sox. He’s been great since the day he signed here.
Tazawa and Okajima should help the bullpen
Tazawa and Okajima should help the bullpen
I don’t like this. I wish we would sign him to a 3 year contract. He is a good pitcher and does not cost that much.
Okajima earned $2.25 million last year; $1.75 million vested option plus $500k in earned incentives.
Good for the team and for Oki. Perhaps he & Rami will anchor this pen for a couple more years while Bard becomes awesome, MDC recovers from his injury, and Pap comes back his old self with a few pitches. I really like Richardson’s body of work in ’09 at age 25. He romped through AA and AAA, and at Fenway in 3.1IP in a September cup of coffee has a 0.00ERA and 1.2whip, with 250BAA. Not bad for first shot at MLB. However, Mike Bowden is #6 on the Sox depth chart in the Pen. He said he loves RP right after he struck out the side, and he too seems ready at age 23. I’m intrigued with Atchinson, Castro, and Rami II. This Pen, IMO, is every bit as awesome as he Rotation.
Good for the team and for Oki. Perhaps he & Rami will anchor this pen for a couple more years while Bard becomes awesome, MDC recovers from his injury, and Pap comes back his old self with a few pitches. I really like Richardson’s body of work in ’09 at age 25. He romped through AA and AAA, and at Fenway in 3.1IP in a September cup of coffee has a 0.00ERA and 1.2whip, with 250BAA. Not bad for first shot at MLB. However, Mike Bowden is #6 on the Sox depth chart in the Pen. He said he loves RP right after he struck out the side, and he too seems ready at age 23. I’m intrigued with Atchinson, Castro, and Rami II. This Pen, IMO, is every bit as awesome as he Rotation.
Uhm, Okajima….. is awful first pitch in the big leagues was a home run to John Buck of the Kansas City Royals… yes I remember, he was terrible last year, Red Sox are just the stupidest team.
you didn’t really pay attention, did you? 3.39 era, 6-0 record, 24 holds, 53 strikeouts and only 21 walks and 8 homers in 61 innings.
there are very few pitchers that deliver that kind of production in a division like that for so little pay.
you didn’t really pay attention, did you? 3.39 era, 6-0 record, 24 holds, 53 strikeouts and only 21 walks and 8 homers in 61 innings.
there are very few pitchers that deliver that kind of production in a division like that for so little pay.
You really have to take it from who the source is and this guy knows absolutely zero about baseball if you go by their first pitch in the bigs no pitcher will be worth a damn.
You root for the Rays and look where they finished, right back where they have been since time in memorium.
Uhm, Okajima….. is awful first pitch in the big leagues was a home run to John Buck of the Kansas City Royals… yes I remember, he was terrible last year, Red Sox are just the stupidest team.
I am betting my money on Richardson to be a part of the bullpen crew at the end of ST
I am betting my money on Richardson to be a part of the bullpen crew at the end of ST
That’s pretty much how I still feel about him. I have very little confidence when he’s brought him to close games and find myself consistently pleasantly surprised when he delivers.
As far as I can tell, given his stuff and makeup, he’s been playing way above his potential for three years. But I suppose at some point you have to give the guy his due.
That’s pretty much how I still feel about him. I have very little confidence when he’s brought him to close games and find myself consistently pleasantly surprised when he delivers.
As far as I can tell, given his stuff and makeup, he’s been playing way above his potential for three years. But I suppose at some point you have to give the guy his due.
Above his potential? That sounds as if you think he wasnt cut out for MLB when they signed him. Look a little bit closer- he’s got the tools to be every bit as successful as he has been.
He’s a lefty, has excellent control, and one of nastiest fastball/change up speed differentials going… c
Above his potential? That sounds as if you think he wasnt cut out for MLB when they signed him. Look a little bit closer- he’s got the tools to be every bit as successful as he has been.
He’s a lefty, has excellent control, and one of nastiest fastball/change up speed differentials going… c
A lot of players have tools; that’s not the whole of potential.
It doesn’t sound like I’m saying he wasn’t cut out for MLB. It sounds like saying I’m saying he wasn’t cut out to be a top-tier setup man in MLB — an observation shared by Sox scouts & brass at the time of his signing.
Also “excellent” control is an overstatement, it’s a splitter, and the differential isn’t what makes the pitch so effective.
It’s because he never looks at the batter while in motion that works.