Report: Marlins agree to 2-year, $12M deal with Tazawa

After missing out on two big name free-agent closers, the Miami Marlins have made an upgrade in the bullpen.

The team has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $12-million deal with reliever Junichi Tazawa, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

The Marlins were heavily in pursuit of Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, reportedly offering them both separate deals worth over $80 million, and even presented Chapman with a proposed deal worth $87 million. The reliever eventually resigned in New York on a five-year, $86-million deal, while Jansen re-upped in Los Angeles on a similar five-year, $80-million contract.

Tazawa gives the Marlins a proven arm out of the bullpen, joining current closer A.J. Ramos, the hard throwing Kyle Barraclough, and veteran Dustin McGowan who just resigned with the team.

In seven years with the Boston Red Sox, Tazawa appeared in 302 games, posting a 3.58 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. His best season came in 2014 where he combined a 2.86 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 71 games out of the bullpen.