The Boston Red Sox have had some moderate success when looking for talent in the Far East. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Takashi Saito and Hideki Okajima have had their good and bad moments as did Hideo Nomo when he was a member of the Sox.
And it appears, they are doing it once again.
According to NikkanSports.com (link in Japanese), the Red Sox have signed 29 year-old Itsuki Shoda to a minor league deal. According to the article, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein expects everything to be done in time for Shoda to report to minor league camp.
Shoda was a the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 2002 and has spent the past two seasons pitching in the less competitive Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Photo credit: Taipei Times
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