Hideki Okajima, Red Sox Agree on One-Year Deal

By John in Featured, Red Sox ⋅ January 1, 2011 at 1:32pm ⋅ Post a comment

Hideki Okajima has come to terms on a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. After being non-tendered, Okajima reportedly considered rejoining Japanese baseball before the deal with Boston. There’s no mention of salary yet, but speculation has been that because of the non-tender and Okajima’s horrendous 2010, the deal will be for chump change. A physical will take place sometime next week.

The 35-year-old had, without a doubt, his worst year with the Red Sox in 2010. His 4.50 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 56 games, 46.0 innings pitched, 59 hits, 24 runs (23 earned), 33 strikeouts, and four losses were all career worsts. Not to mention the DL stint.

Currently, Jon Lester and Felix Doubront are the only lefty hurlers on Boston’s 40-man roster. Rich Hill, Andrew Miller and Lenny DiNardo are all competitors for a spot in the pen. Daniel Bard, Jonathan Papelbon, Bobby Jenks, and Tim Wakefield will all get a spot on the roster, and with so many starting pitchers and batters, competition for left-handed bullpen spots, however many the Sox decide to go with, will undoubtedly be cutthroat. If Okajima can’t pick it up in a hurry, he could very well find himself looking for a new team.

Tags: Hideki Okajima, Red Sox