According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Boston Red Sox have signed free agent pitcher Takashi Saito to a 1-year contract with a club option for 2010.
The deal was completed after Saito passed his physical on Friday. It includes a guarantee between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, the sources said, and Saito will have the chance to earn more than $7 million if he reaches all of his incentives.
With Terry Francona liking to carry 12 pitchers, it appears the Red Sox bullpen is all set for 2009 with Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, Javier Lopez and Saito.
The 39-year old Saito was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after he missed 2 months last year with elbow troubles.
In 180 games with the Dodgers over his 3-year career, Saito was 12-7 with a 1.95 ERA and had 81 saves. He has struck out 245 batters in a 189.2 innings of work.
Saito will join fellow countrymen Daisuke Matsuzaka, Okajima and Junichi Tazawa in the Red Sox organization.
