Report: Blue Jays agree to 2-year deal with Japanese pitcher Yamaguchi
The Toronto Blue Jays reached an agreement with Japanese right-hander Shun Yamaguchi, pending a physical, a source told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.
It's a two-year deal worth just over $6 million with performance bonuses, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Toronto will have to pay the Yomiuri Giants a transfer fee based on a percentage of the contract's value.
Yamaguchi led Japan's Central League with 188 strikeouts last season and authored a 2.91 ERA in 170 innings. The 32-year-old registered 111 saves in the early stages of his career before transitioning to a starting pitcher.
The Blue Jays believe Yamaguchi will likely be used in a relief role, according to Rosenthal.
On @timandsid yesterday, Mark Shapiro described Yamaguchi as "a guy that has some versatility, has some upside out of the pen, but can also start." So he's in rotation mix, but not assured of a job.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 18, 2019
Toronto's projected 2020 rotation features Tanner Roak, Chase Anderson, Matt Shoemaker, Trent Thornton, and Ryan Borucki. However, the team is also reportedly interested in left-handers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dallas Keuchel.
#BlueJays remain in on free agent lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu but the sense I'm getting is that the organization does not expect to sign him. Toronto definitely not considered a front runner. That could change but with his cost rising, it seems unlikely at the moment.
— Gregor Chisholm (@GregorChisholm) December 17, 2019
The only other Japanese players who have played for the Blue Jays are infielder Munenori Kawasaki, outfielder Nori Aoki, and right-handers Tomo Ohka and Ryota Igarashi.