A full day after a Japanese shortstop told reporters in his country he’d signed with the Seattle Mariners, the Mariners announced Thursday they’d agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract – with Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
Iwakuma, 30, had gone 107-69 with a 3.25 earned run average in 226 career games in Japan, winning the MVP award in 2008 when he won 21 games. Last season, battling shoulder issues, he went 6-7 with a 2.42 ERA.
“Iwakuma has been a highly successful pitcher in Japan,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “We look forward to his contributions to the Seattle Mariners, as he will be given the opportunity to be part of our starting rotation.”
Looking for an innings-eater for the middle of the rotation, the Mariners now have in right-hander Iwakuma a man who has twice worked 200 or more innings in a 28-start season.
Iwakuma once threw 95 mph but last year was clocked at 87-91 mph, evidence of a not-quite-right shoulder. He also throws a sinker, slider and split-fingered fastball.
The Mariners now have a deeper starting rotation that will feature ace Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda, Jason Vargas, Iwakuma and a No. 5 starter picked from candidates such as Blake Beavan, Charlie Furbush and rookie Danny Hultzen.
Meanwhile, infielder Munenori Kawasaki interrupted a workout with Ichiro Suzuki to tell Japanese reporters he’d agreed to a minor league deal with Seattle and will report to spring training next month.
“I’ll be going to Arizona in February to compete for a job,” Kawasaki said.
The Mariners had no comment on the report, an indication the minor league deal might be not be completed. There was a 10-day delay last month between the reported and announced signing of left-hander George Sherill.
The 30-year-old Kawasaki has been viewed by big-league scouts as something of a defensive specialist, a bottom-of-the-order hitter capable of playing “little ball.” At 5-foot-10, 165-pounds, Kawasaki patterned his hitting approach after Ichiro.
Kawasaki may well compete for a job, but whether it will be as a starter or reserve appears uncertain.
Kawaksaki batted .267 last season in Japan, though he’s hit .300 or better in five of his past seven seasons.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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