Report: Koji Uehara, Red Sox Agree on One-Year Deal

by John Beattie on Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 12:52PM

Mike Napoli isn’ t the only former Ranger heading to Boston.

According to Gerry Fraley of DallasNews.com, the Sox and right-handed reliever Koji Uehara have agreed on a one-year deal on Thursday, contingent upon Uehara passing his physical.

The 37-year-old appeared in 37 games for the Rangers in 2012 and posted a 1.75 ERA. In four big league seasons, Uehara has gone 5-9 with a 2.89 ERA. The righty holds right-handed hitters to a .206 BA while limiting lefties to a .216 BA and shows amazing control, walking just 29 batters compared to 231 strikeouts in 211 2/3 career innings pitched.

Starting his MLB career with the Orioles in 2009, Uehara went 2-4 in 12 starts before heading to the bullpen permanently in 2010, where he racked up 10 saves, a 2.86 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 43 appearances.

In seven career appearances (one start) at Fenway Park, the Osaka, Japan native has a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings pitched, striking out 13 Sox batters and walking one.

In 2011, he was traded by the Orioles (along with cash) to the Rangers for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.