Rangers sign Japanese pitcher Arihara to 2-year deal worth reported $6.2M

The Texas Rangers signed Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara to a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

Arihara's deal is worth $6.2 million, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports. He can also earn another $50,000 annually in performance bonuses, according to Levi Weaver of The Athletic.

The 28-year-old's 30-day posting window was set to close Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

Arihara played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Pro Baseball over the past six years. He recorded a 3.46 ERA across 132 2/3 innings last season while racking up 106 strikeouts and 30 walks.

The right-hander earned the Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award in 2015. He turned in the best season of his career in 2019 when he was named a finalist for the Eiji Sawamura Award - Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young - after winning 15 games and recording a 2.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

Arihara is set to join a rotation in Texas that includes Kyle Gibson, Jordan Lyles, and Dane Dunning. He'll essentially replace Lance Lynn, who was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Dunning earlier this winter.

After signing Arihara through the MLB-NPB posting system, the Rangers must pay a posting fee to the Fighters. His deal is worth less than $25 million in guaranteed money, so the Rangers owe Nippon-Ham $1.24 million, or 20% of his contract, according to Heyman.

To open a 40-man roster spot for Arihara, Texas designated right-hander Art Warren for assignment.