Arizona Diamondbacks increase pitching depth, sign Takashi Saito for one-year -MLB Update
The Arizona Diamondback of the Western division in the National League (NL) extended their already deep pitching depth by signing on former Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher, Takashi Saito, to a one year deal in which he will reportedly be getting a cool
$1.75 million in the upcoming 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season.
Takashi Saito, who is currently 41 years of age and will be 42 by the team spring training kicks off later next year, has extensive experience in the MLB of over five years now with various teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves
and most recently, Milwaukee Brewers.
It was reported that the Diamondbacks and Saito were in negotiations over the Winter Meetings earlier last month and were planning to be participating in the next season together after failing to secure a deal with the Brewers with whom he spent a single
season with.
Due to his age, Saito was unable to secure a long term deal with not just the Diamondbacks but with any team since no one will be obviously willing to agree to a multiple year deal looking at how many performance years he has left in him.
Next year will certainly be a decider for the mature pitcher and will ultimately be the factor in him playing in any more major league seasons or having to call it quits in regards to ball playing.
Last season, Saito managed to pitch only 26.2 innings due to a strain in his left hamstring but was still able to record a 2.03 ERA, brining his career statistics to a total of 2.18 ERA and an average of 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings since he joined the
MLB in 2006 from Japan.
The former 2007 All-Star is certainly one of the most talented Japanese players the MLB has seen in many years but his age just might not let him continue for much longer in the future.
The Arizona Diamondbacks can call their bullpen complete now in the offseason and can focus on other aspects of the team since they have more than enough time remaining before the 2012 season kicks off.
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