Free agent relief pitcher Takahiro Norimoto has received an offer from a major league club, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The 35-year-old righty is weighing a move stateside but not firmly committed to making the jump. He’s also considering offers from clubs in Japan.
Norimoto has played 13 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, all with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. A starter for most of that time, he has transitioned into the Eagles’ closer over the past two years. Norimoto has gone 48-53 in save opportunities. He posted a 3.46 earned run average in 2024 and is coming off a 3.02 mark across 56 2/3 frames last season.
Despite his decent numbers at the back of the Eagles’ bullpen, Norimoto isn’t a power arm. He hasn’t recorded a strikeout rate above 20% in any of the past four seasons. Norimoto fanned just 17.2% of batters faced against an 8.4% walk rate last year. FanGraphs writes that he sits around 92 MPH on his fastball and features an above-average splitter as his best secondary pitch. He seemingly projects as a middle reliever or depth arm at the major league level.
It’d be a surprise if Norimoto commands more than a cheap one-year MLB contract. It’s possible he explores major league interest as a leverage play in negotiations for potentially bigger money in Japan. Norimoto has nine-plus seasons of service time in his home country, so he’s an unrestricted free agent who can sign with any club in NPB or a foreign league. An MLB team would not owe the Eagles a posting fee. Feinsand notes that Norimoto is likely to decide whether he’ll make the move to MLB within the next few days.
Buccos about to make that big Japanese splash we’ve all been waiting for.
They’re going to Shamu the wale in water tank behind the outfield wall @ PNC Park????
Sounds like he’s going to be a Texas Ranger
my thoughts exactly. Rangers can’t spend much this offseason, they know it, their fans (such as yours truly) knows it; but at least they’d send/are sending a message that they’re at least going to try.
Plenty of opportunity in Twins Territory. They did trade away all their backend guys last deadline
Been posting here for years and I guess someone reported me cause my comments wouldn’t go. Probably a dodger fan. Anyway I can see the Dbacks here
Unlikely because most dodger fans don’t even know the Dbacks exist
That’s actually funny
Chill
Maybe the Rockies locking down another GB pitcher? Don’t really have anything to lose…other than more games…
50% ground ball rate this past year in Japan? Definitely sounds intriguing.
Valdez numbers
Sounds like he’s heading to Colorado.
I am guessing its a midwest team that he really doesnt want to join
The White Sox really need to make a move like this – not just because they have space, but because it makes sense to bring another veteran player in from Japan to help Murakami settle as a young player. A small investment here has the ability to help their bigger investment.
Here we are in the bargain bin again. You know what that means: Live from Seattle, it’s The Justin and Jerry Show!
Padres!!!
Minor League contract with a ST invite is the best he should get.
Well, more bullpen help coming! Teams need that
Mariano closer style: not entirely overpowering but effective use of the splitter. Give him a look NYY!
Kansas City could also be the interested MLB team. They are desperate for bullpen help.
if he goes for 50,000 a year then the cubs will think about it.
Dude looks like Masahero Tanaka’s body double