The Pirates claimed Angels reliever Hisanori Takahashi off of waivers, Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times reports (on Twitter). The left-hander had been sent to Triple-A five days ago.
Takahashi appeared in 42 games for the Angels this year, posting a 4.93 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 42 innings. He signed a two-year, $8MM contract with Los Angeles after the 2010 campaign.
The 37-year-old has held left-handed hitters to a .244/.287/.384 batting line with 9.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in three MLB seasons. Takahashi joins fellow southpaw Tony Watson and right-handers Joel Hanrahan, Jason Grilli, Jared Hughes, Chris Resop and Chad Qualls in the Pirates' bullpen.
TAKE-A-Hike-SHI! Thanks priates!
Pirates are short on lefties in the pen. He won’t pitch many crucial innings, hopefully will just be a LOOGY. Their only other lefty, Tony Watson, actually has better numbers against RH batters
The Angels have been shopping for another lefty all season. And they sent Takahashi to AAA. Twice.
I think that The Pirates are taking a chance on a very shakey Lefthander in Hisanori Takahasi. Takahasi’s fast ball is not sinking and has lost command of his breaking pitch and curve ball.
Just because he was claimed doesn’t mean they automatically get him right? Doesn’t that just mean the angels and pirates now have the right to work something out? Or is it because he was in the Minors that the pirates just get him and his contract?
He was a AAA guy…he is headed to the show and someone from the existing bullpen is headed out the door
Angels can either let him go straight up for nothing (like the Blue Jays let Rios go to the White Sox for nothing a couple years ago), or pull him back and work out a deal.
Takahashi was great for the Mets as a “rookie”. I’m sure he’d do very well back in the NL…