A’s finalize $3.25M deal with Japanese pitcher Fujinami

By The Associated Press

FILE - Japan pitcher Shintaro Fujinami pitches against the Netherlands in the sixth inning of an international exhibition series baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Nov. 12, 2016. Right-hander Fujinami has reached agreement on a $3.25 million, one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, because Fujinami’s contract is pending a physical to be finalized. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Toru Takahashi]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami and the Oakland Athletics have finalized a $3.25 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses for starts. The hard-throwing Fujinami could fill a void in Oakland’s rotation or pitch out of the bullpen. The 28-year-old spent the past 10 seasons with the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers. The 6-foot-6 Fujinami was 3-5 with a 3.38 ERA and .240 opponents’ batting average in 10 starts and six relief appearances last year. He walked 21 batters and struck out 65 in 66 2/3 innings.