2007 Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox Fantasy Values

The Red Sox' quest for relievers took them to Japan, where they signed Okajima with far less fanfare than surrounded Daisuke Matsuzaka. Because he had nine years of service time, Okajima was a pure free agent who didn't have to be posted. He signed a two-year contract with annual salaries of $1.25 million and a $1.75 million club option for 2009. Other clubs offered more money, but he signed with the Sox in part because they were the first team to show interest. Okajima is a versatile pitcher who served as a starter, middle reliever, setup man and closer in Japan, where he was a key cog in Japan Series championship teams in 2000, 2002 and 2006. His best pitch is an overhand curveball that's tough on lefties. He doesn't throw hard, operating in the mid- to high 80s and topping out at 91, but his fastball is effective because he can locate it to both sides of the plate. He keeps righties honest by throwing two versions of a splitter, one for strikes and another as a chase pitch. His command has improved in the last two years as he has done a better job of keeping his focus on the plate during his delivery. Boston lacked reliable southpaw relievers for most of last season, and it believes that Okajima can serve as more than a situational lefty. At the worst, he'll help ease Matsuzaka's transition to the United States.