The Newest Japense Imports

Actually it's one old and one new. The Red Sox have signed reliever Takashi Saito to a one year deal with a club option for 2010. That news come from Ken Rosenthal who reports the deal is worth between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, and could pay up to $7 million with incentives.

Saito has been his 3 year major league career as a closer for the Dodgers, but elbow problems limited him to 45 games this past season and the Dodgers decided not to offer him a deal for the upcoming season.

Former Japanese top pitcher Kenshin Kawakami has agreed to terms with the Braves, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 33-yr old will reportedly receive a 3 year deal. Kawakami won the Sawamura Award, given to Japan's top starting pitcher, in 2004.