The Braves are close to signing free-agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal, worth roughly $3 million, according to CBS Sportsline.
…hat tip to Sebastian for the link…
…if this is true, the Braves have done a pretty solid job of revamping their bullpen in the matter of a few days, in signing saito and Billy Wagner…
According to NPB Tracker, the Mets were among the eight teams who were showing interest in Saito.
In four seasons since leaving Japan for MLB, the 39–year-old Saito has a 2.05 ERA in 236 relief appearances, while pitching for the Dodgers and Red Sox, during which he has 297 strike outs and just 77 walks in 245 innings pitched.
…like i said the other day, he changes speeds so well, and keeps hitters off balance… he is very good control, but he is not a guy a team should go to for more than a few batters… the biggest concern with saito is a) he is striking out less and walking more hitters while giving up more home runs with each passing season, and b) his health, as he’s had some sort of arm issue every season, be it his elbow or shoulder… in fact, he missed 50 games in 2008 with an elbow injury, and so the Dodgers didn’t bother to tender him a contract in 2008…
source: MetsBlog.com
