The bidding war for 22-year-old Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa appears to be over.
According to multiple published reports from Japan, Tazawa has agreed to sign a major-league deal with the Boston Red Sox, with an official announcement likely coming within the next week. The Boston Globe reported on Friday that both The Mainichi Daily News and Sankei Sports – two daily newspapers in Japan – have announced the move.
Tazawa had fielded offers from several clubs – including the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves – but decided that he wanted to play for the Red Sox. Their offer is reported to be in the neighborhood of $6 million over three years.
Boston imported Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima from Japan prior to the 2007 season. The Mainichi Daily News said that the presence of Matsuzaka – whom Tazawa idolizes – was a key factor in his decision to join the Red Sox. Japans the Kyodo News wire service reported that he turned down offers from the Braves and Rangers, despite the fact that Texas offered him the longest and most lucrative contract of all the teams pursuing the young righthander.
The amateur hurler signed with the Nippon Oil Eneos of the corporate league after high school and went 10-1 during the 2008 season with a 1.02 ERA, striking out 95 in 88 1/3 innings. This fall, Tazawa opted to skip the Japanese draft in favor of signing with a major league team.
MLB.com recently reported that Tazawa met with Boston vice president of international scouting Craig Shipley for nearly two hours last week.
While Tazawa will reportedly be placed on the 40-man roster, he will likely start out somewhere in Bostons farm system.
