For a team that boasted the best record in the Majors and finished one win shy of a World Series championship, the Los Angeles Dodgers went into the offseason without glaring needs. Their search for bullpen pieces focused on second-tier options, such as Yoshihisa Hirano, among others.
That fit what Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said the club would do as they looked for relievers of value, as opposed to high-end arms. Addressing the bullpen became more of a necessity in the wake of Brandon Morrow signing a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
The first step to doing so came earlier this week, when Los Angeles finalized a one-year contract with Tom Koehler. The right-hander struggled as a starter last season but excelled out of the bullpen, following the mold of Joe Blanton and Morrow.
Although it may not have ruled out the Dodgers potentially signing Hirano as well, the 33-year-old is bound for the Arizona Diamondbacks on a two-year contract, per azcentral.com:
The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with Japanese relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano. The deal, which is pending a physical, is expected to be for $6 million over two years.
In 11 seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, the right-hander went 48-69 with 156 saves, a 3.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Hirano set a career high with 40 saves in 2014, but only recorded 12 the following year, 31 in 2016, and 29 this past season.
Hirano’s strikeouts per nine innings declined in each of the past two seasons — 8.4 and 7.4, respectively — since tying a career-best 11.3 in 2015. He worked as a starting pitcher in the first three seasons of his career, but struggled in the role.
Hirano went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings across six games in this year’s World Baseball Classic. He pitched agaianst Team USA in the semifinal at Dodger Stadium, and struck out Nolan Arenado swinging, the only batter faced.
Hirano will turn 34 years old in March, and because of his age and years of experience, was not subject to international bonus pool money.
