高桥 尚成即将跟天使达成复数年合约
Hisanori Takahashi, a versatile pitcher for the Mets in 2010, is close to
agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Los Angeles Angels pending a physical,
according to an executive with knowledge of the situation.
Takahashi, a left-handed pitcher, has been working out in Japan for the past
few weeks, but he was headed to California on Thursday to take a medical
examination with Angels doctors.
Takahashi’s brief tenure with the Mets ended last month when he and the team
failed to reach a contract extension by Nov. 5. The Mets had made it clear
they were not willing to guarantee him more than one year.
Because they had originally agreed to release him after one season in
Flushing, once the deadline passed, Takahashi would not have been able to
play for the Mets again until May 15, ensuring he would seek a multiyear deal
elsewhere.
Los Angeles has been looking to add experienced veterans to its bullpen, and
with 10 seasons in Japan, most of which were spent as a starter, and one with
the Mets, the 35-year-old Takahashi has experience. Last season he was 10-6
with a 3.61 earned run average in virtually every role a pitcher can have,
including as a starter and closer. He was 8 for 8 in save opportunities after
closer Francisco Rodriguez was injured.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the Angels are interested in the
free-agent closer Rafael Soriano with the intention of moving Fernando Rodney
back to a setup role. If any part of that plan fails, Takahashi can provide
help in either role, and can also start.
As a starter for the Mets, he was 4-4 with a 5.01 earned run average. In
three of those starts, two against the Yankees and one against the Phillies,
he threw 18 shutout innings. As a reliever, his record was 6-2 with a 2.04
earned run average
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/takahashi-and-angels-close-to-a-deal/