Hideki Okajima thinking retirement or return to Japan after spending season in minors
Sep 5, 2011, 7:05 PM EDT
Hideki Okajima has spent nearly the entire season at Triple-A despite signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Red Sox and the 35-year-old left-hander told Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal that he’s thinking about retiring or going back to Japan.
Okajima had three straight seasons with a sub-3.50 ERA setting up Jonathan Papelbon, but struggled last season with a 4.50 ERA and 33/20 K/BB ratio in 46 innings and the Red Sox lost all confidence in him.
They’ve called up a half-dozen other left-handed relievers during the season, bypassing Okajima despite his 2.29 ERA and 48/9 K/BB ratio in 51 innings at Triple-A.
Okajima admitted that he “never expected to return back to Boston” once he was removed from the 40-man roster, but thought he’d be pitching for another team by now. Instead he’s been stuck in Pawtucket, dominating Triple-A hitters while his career ERA in the majors remains 3.11.
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- itsmekirill - Sep 5, 2011 at 8:22 PM
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He has no reason to do either. There’s plenty of teams that will be glad to give him a shot next year and probably pay decent money to do it. Look at the trash the Yankees are picking up off the scrap heap in their endless search for a second left handed reliever. I’d take Okajima over the likes of Laffey any day of the week if it were me.
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- dirtyharry1971 - Sep 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM
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you gotta remember boston signed this guy so dice-k had someone to talk to, if they let him go dice k is gonna be very lonely next season.
