While MLB’s wealthy teams have spent countless millions to lure All-Star hurlers such as Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom, other teams are looking for less expensive options with high upside.
The Oakland Athletics hope they’ve found just such a player in Japanese League veteran Shintaro Fujinami.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan announced Wednesday the A’s and Fujinami have agreed to a one-year deal, pending a physical.
Right-hander Shintaro Fujinami and the Oakland A's are in agreement on a one-year deal, pending physical, a source tells ESPN. Fujinami, 28, is expected to join the A's rotation. He arrives from the Hanshin Tigers, where he spent 10 seasons.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 11, 2023
The 28-year-old Fujinami already has 10 years under his belt with the Hanshin Tigers. The 6-6 pitcher was once regarded as a generational talent who went No. 1 overall in the 2012 Nippon Pro Baseball Draft. His fastball still touches 100 mph, but he has battled injuries and control problems in recent years, although he improved to 3 walks per nine innings last season. He has a 3.17 career ERA, with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.322 WHIP.
The Red Sox have been named as one of the finalists for pitcher Shintaro Fujinami, according to @yakyucosmo.
He posted a 3.38 ERA in 66.2 innings of work last season. Fujinami could be another piece to the new rebuilt bullpen.
— Beyond the Monster (@BeyondtheMnstr) January 11, 2023
The MLB world seems to think the A’s got a great talent with big upside at a reasonable price (terms of the contract were not disclosed). Fujinami has until Saturday to sign the deal with the A’s or his rights revert back to Hanshin.
“At his best, he throws a low-90s splitter with high nineties gas. Shintaro Fujinami is an interesting guy despite all the injuries,” tweeted The Athletic’s Eno Sarris.
At his best, he throws a low-90s splitter with high nineties gas. Shintaro Fujinami is an interesting guy despite all the injuries. https://t.co/uu3k1dA0Za
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) January 11, 2023
“Control is an issue. But when he was first drafted, there was some serious discussion that he was better than Ohtani,” tweeted The Stringer.
Control is an issue. But when he was first drafted, there was some serious discussion that he was better than Ohtani.
— The Stringer (@TheStringer5) January 11, 2023
“I don’t let him anywhere near a rotation though. His path to success in MLB is in the bullpen,” Daniel Brim tweeted.
I don't let him anywhere near a rotation though. His path to success in MLB is in the bullpen.
— Daniel Brim (@DanielBrim) January 11, 2023
The Yakyu Cosmopolitan tweeted, “Once regarded as a generational talent, Shintaro Fujinami’s career derailed around 2017 due to command issues. Still has wicked stuff.”
Once regarded as a generational talent, Shintaro Fujinami’s career derailed around 2017 due to command issues. Still has wicked stuff.
Career
3.41 ERA
3.60 FIP
23.4 K%
10.6 BB%2022
3.38 ERA
3.42 FIP
3.26 xFIP
23.6 K%
7.6 BB%Average FB velo: 95.8 mphpic.twitter.com/7pW4zFz2F8
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) January 11, 2023
[Jeff Passan, ESPN; Photo Credit: Yakyu Cosmopolitan]
