MAY 24: The Rangers have announced Fujikawa has cleared unconditional waivers and is now a free agent.
MAY 22: The Rangers have placed Fujikawa on unconditional release waivers, tweets John Blake, the club’s executive vice president of communications. Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Fujikawa wasn’t interested in pitching at Triple-A and was therefore granted his release.
MAY 17: The Rangers have designated Kyuji Fujikawa for assignment, according to John Blake of the Texas Rangers (on Twitter). Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports the Rangers could not option Fujikawa to the minors without his consent before June 15 and the right-hander had indicated to the team he did not intend to accept such an option.
Fujikawa, 35 in July, has appeared in just two games for Texas this season and didn’t have a great amount of success. In a combined 1 2/3 innings, he allowed three earned runs. He fared a little better better in eleven combined minor-league appearances this season. In 11 outings (ten at Triple-A, one at Double-A), the veteran pitched to a 4.35 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 7.8 BB/9.
The Rangers signed the reliever back in December to a one-year deal worth $1MM plus incentives. The contract also included a club option for $2MM that can be bought out for a modest $100K. Fujikawa threw only 25 innings between 2013 and 2014, with two stints sandwiched around a Tommy John procedure and rehab. The former Cub has never been a strong ERA buy, but he does own career averages of 10.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9.
The Rangers now have ten days to trade, release, or outright Fujikawa to the minor leagues. The reliever is now is joined in DFA Limbo by Kevin Gregg, Nick Masset, Stolmy Pimentel, and Bruce Chen. You can keep track of everyone’s status using MLBTR’s DFA Tracker.
I mean he was below average in the NL Central. I don’t know what JD was expecting here…
The Reds should take a flyer on him. He’d also be the first Japanese player in franchise history.
Funny, I clicked on the comments to say we should take a flyer on him.
The Rangers are desperate. Their pen is awful this year. Feliz is shaky as the closer. A very tough loss last night for him and the team to Cleveland. And to think…the last few years, the Rangers had hit on a bunch of good relief pitchers. That’s what makes baseball so unpredictable.
Mets should try him due to their lack of depth
Erik Cordier is still in DFA limbo too, is he not?
he’s done…doubt anyone gonna sign him..best bet is find a minor league gig.
I don’t know why he didn’t just go to the minors with Texas… I mean, isn’t he just going to get a minors deal if anyone signs him now?