The Red Sox agreed to terms with left-handed relief pitcher Hideki Okajima on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration. Okajima was awarded a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for 2010. According to Rotoworld.com, the deal is worth $2.75 million, a $1 million raise from 2009.
The 34-year-old reliever went 6-0 with a 3.39 ERA over 68 appearances last season. Among qualifying American League pitchers, Hideki finished third, allowing just 16.2 percent of inherited runners to score. He finishsed 2009 tied for fifth in the AL with 24 holds and leads the major leagues with 74 holds since the start of the 2007 season.
Okajima was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent on Nov. 30, 2006. In three seasons with Boston, he is 12-4 with six saves and a 2.72 ERA. In each of his first three seasons, Okajima made at least 60 appearances, becoming only the fifth AL southpaw to do so.
