Chicago Cubs and Kyuji Fujikawa likely to complete agreement on Friday – MLB News
One would rightly expect the offseason to be fraught with important issues since this is a time for trades and deals. Eventful as they invariably are, Tuesday, December 4, saw emergence of news pertaining to the possible deal between the Chicago Cubs and Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa.
Reports suggest that the Cubs and the pitcher are likely to complete the agreement on Friday whereby Fujikawa will be offered a two-year $9.5 million contract. This also includes vesting option that values $5.5 million or $6 million – to be determined by games finished.
The 32-year-old pitcher has been part of Hansin Tigers for 12 seasons; having had an impressive record. With 220 saves, and retaining 1.77 ERA, he is statistically the kind of pitcher that the Cubs have been looking for. The past season, he posted 1.3 ERA in just over 47 innings that he pitched.
The Cubs can use him in the bullpen or, at best, he can be the next closer. Along with Carlos Marmol whose performance won approval, he has all the potential to solidify the Cubs' defence.
Dale Sveum, the Cubs' manager, seems thoroughly impressed by the Japanese pitcher.
"He can fill any kind of role, he has that kind of stuff," Sveum said. "Those numbers and that ability to do things with three, four different pitches just doesn't come around very often. He can set up, he can close. He can do anything he wants with a baseball. He has four quality pitches and can add and subtract with his fastball. He can pitch in the seventh, pitch in the eighth, pitch in the ninth. He can get left-handers out and pitch in any type of situation."
Sveum added: "He's one of the guys who can pitch in the back end of our bullpen, no doubt about it.”
The adductor strain this past season rendered him unable to pitch the whole season. However, with 1.32 ERA in just over 47 innings proved – if proof was really needed, that he continues to enjoy dominance as closer. With the completion of deal, the Cubs will have an advantage in the bullpen – long required for the emboldening of the defence.
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