The Seattle Mariners signed Japanese free agent pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to a one-year contract Thursday.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but it is reported to be for $1.5 million guaranteed and a possible $4.9 million if he reaches incentives.
The 30-year-old right-hander compiled a 107-69 record with a 3.25 ERA in 226 career games with Kintetsu and Rakuten of the Japan League. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Pacific League MVP and Eiji Sawamura Award (Cy Young equivalent) after having a 21-4 record with a 1.87 earned-run average in 28 starts.
He had a 6-7 mark with a 2.42 ERA last season, but spent time on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.
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