According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Boston Red Sox and Junichi Tazawa have a deal in place that will become official later in the week pending the outcome of a physical.
According to the same source, the 22-year-old Tazawa is due in Boston during the early or middle part of this week to undergo a physical that is seen largely as a formality. Official announcement of Tazawa’s signing will likely come as late as this week, depending on the pitcher’s precise travel schedule and the progress of his physical exam.
According to the same source, Tazawa’s deal is a major league contract worth an estimated $3 million over three years, though Tazawa would not become a free agent at the end of the contract. By agreement between the player and team, Tazawa would become eligible for arbitration after he accrues three years of service time (as is the case with any player) and would not be eligible for free agency until he has six years of service (ion this case, no earlier than the fall of 2014).
Expect spring training to be a Japanese media circus when Tazawa reports to camp in Ft. Myers. Tazawa is expected to open up the season in Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs.
With the signing of Tazawa, the Red Sox now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.
