Kyuji Fujikawa looking forward to playing in MLB – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs have barely shown any sign of inactiveness with the onset of offseason. Like all other teams who are looking for some pieces to add to the roster, nothing has diverted the Cubs attention either.
Thus recent rumours that the Chicago Cubs are pursuing J. P. Howell did not come as a surprise to many.
Right from the time when the 2012 Major League Baseball season ended – however disappointing it might have been for many due to losing 101 games, the Cubs have focused on signing the players who can bring alter the course.
Signing Japanese Kyuji Fujikawa is a step towards this direction. The two-year contract, worth $9.5 million – which also included $1 million in bonus, is one of the noteworthy ones for the Cubs lately.
They had earlier signed Scott Baker and Scott Feldman, two additions to the rotation that were greatly needed. Along with it, there have recently been reports that Cubs have been in pursuit of Edwin Jackson and J. P Howell.
After losing the bid to sign Angel Sanchez, who was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 5-year, $80 million, deal, the Cubs can for now be content with how things have gone so far. Fujikawa, undeniably, is a pitcher they would welcome eagerly.
"Whatever it takes, I have to get three outs or four outs, depending on the situation," he said, using his agent Don Nomura as interpreter. "That was my goal as a closer. My mindset was to get outs, even if I have to fill up the bases, my mentality was to
get three outs to close the game."
For the Cubs president of baseball operations, the move was an important one. Debate on whether he has to be assigned a setup man role or that of a closer is seemingly inessential for now since Fujikawa will execute whatever role he is assigned.
"[He wanted] a chance to have a meaningful role and do his job," Epstein said. "That's all he said. He said, 'My job is not closer or setup guy, my job is to help the team win and do what the manager asks of me,' and that's the only time it came up in the
discussion."
Fujikawa is awaiting the commencement of the season. As to when will the Cubs formally add him to the roster is a question that will take a time before having a final answer.
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