Padres sign Makita to 2-year deal
While the San Diego Padres missed out on an international free agent in Shohei Ohtani despite reportedly being among the two-way star's list of finalists, the club signed Japanese right-hander Kazuhisa Makita to a two-year contract Saturday.
The veteran reliever's deal is worth close to $4 million, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, while the Padres reportedly paid a $500,000 posting fee to recruit his services, per Dennis Lin the San Diego Tribune.
The 33-year-old Makita is a submariner who posted a 2.30 ERA over 62 2/3 innings with the Saitama Seibu Lions last season. Making 58 appearances, the right-hander had a 1.02 WHIP while striking out 35 batters and walking five.
The Padres had the second-worst bullpen in baseball last year, according to FanGraphs' WAR, trailing only the Detroit Tigers. The bullpen is led by closer Brad Hand, while Kirby Yates was effective in the setup role after Brandon Maurer was traded to the Kansas City Royals.
Over a seven-year Japan Pacific League career, Makita owns a 2.83 ERA over 276 games. Makita has done an impressive job suppressing both home runs and walks in his career, with a 0.4 HR/9 and 2.0 BB/9 over 921 1/3 innings. Though he's had limited work as a closer - with the majority coming in his 2011 rookie season - Makita has 25 saves.
From 2012-2014, Makita served as a starter but converted to the bullpen halfway through the 2015 season and has been a full-time reliever since.