Kyuji Fujikawa, the 32-yo, hard-throwing Japanese closer, visited Baltimore

[Greg]

Dan Connolly ‏@danconnollysun

RHP Kyuji Fujikawa, the 32-yo, hard-throwing Japanese closer, visited Baltimore on Friday and toured Camden Yards.

Dan Connolly ‏@danconnollysun

Fujikawa was in the US for a while and also visited w Cubs, Angels, Diamondbacks and Dodgers. He's an unrestricted FA seeking multiyr deal

[Ven6]

4 non-playoff teams and us. How refreshing.

[Can_of_corn]

Heh Kam Mickolio had the highest average fastball velocity in NPB last season. Fujikawa wasn't in the top 10.

This year’s FA class is undoubtedly headed by Hanshin closer Fujikawa, NPB’s most dominant reliever over the last several years. Kyuji has been on the nichibei scene for years; he was actually the first player I profiled way back in 2008 and has since made a perennial habit of asking Hanshin to post him and being turned down. Now as a free agent he’ll finally get his shot. Kyuji isn’t the same guy as he was in 2006, but he still get’s plenty of swinging strikes with the usual vertical movement on his fastball and splitters in the dirt (more data here). His K rate in 2012 was 10.95 per 9, which is great but actually down a bit from his usual 12-14 range. He’ll certainly command an MLB contract, but it seems likely that he’ll begin his MLB career in a middle relief role.

Pitch tracker info:

http://www.npbtracker.com/data/player.php?p_id=170

http://www.npbtracker.com/

Not interested in getting into a bidding war and offering a multi-year deal.

[Spirus]

I didn't really see the need to sign another middle reliever until I looked at his NPB stats. They're crazy ridiculous. Now I suppose I'd be willing to take the chance as long as he doesn't want a fortune. Even if we don't sign him it's good to see the Orioles finally courting top tier international players for once.

Plus, hopefully this means we'll be in the running on Hiroyuki Nakajima too, at a position where we actually need some help.

[Saintbird]

Relievers are one of those positions that it's extremely hard to find consistency. Our league-best bullpen of 2012 might be below-average in 2013, it's too unpredictable. I think Duquette realizes this and wants to give us as many options out of the pen as possible.

[sangar]

Supposedly, Scioscia and Dipoto spent 2 to 3 hours giving him a tour of the stadium, provided lunch, and made a multi year offer. Coletti didn't even attend Fujikawa's meeting with the Dodgers.

[sangar]

Relievers are one of those positions that it's extremely hard to find consistency. Our league-best bullpen of 2012 might be below-average in 2013, it's too unpredictable. I think Duquette realizes this and wants to give us as many options out of the pen as possible.

This is where I am at. Perhaps the biggest reason for our success last season was the bullpen. Too many people are feeling satisfied with the status quo. Certainly we have bigger needs, but I think it would be a mistake to assume that a repeat performance will occur.

[Can_of_corn]

This is where I am at. Perhaps the biggest reason for our success last season was the bullpen. Too many people are feeling satisfied with the status quo. Certainly we have bigger needs, but I think it would be a mistake to assume that a repeat performance will occur.

I fully expect next year's results to be different. That isn't why I oppose giving Fujikawa a multi-year deal.

[86this]

Former Oriole Brian Falkenborg is on that list

[canonfaz]

Wine em, Dine em, ...

Nice to hear that we are involved in the international market again.

[Ampontan]

If they put the same effort into scouting him that they put into scouting Chen, and think he can succeed, signing him might allow Strop to be traded, pleasing the people who are anxious to trade Strop. I mention this only for discussion purposes, because I like Strop and would like to keep him, but I also wonder if the team is worried about how long his elbow with an inch-long screw in it will hold up.

[ChaosLex]

I read over on MLBTradeRumors that he supposedly has offers from 10 teams. Probably a longshot.

[Dark Helmet]

I read over on MLBTradeRumors that he supposedly has offers from 10 teams. Probably a longshot.

No point reading any further once the Dodgers were mentioned. Like Rothensal said, if the Dodgers want a player, they will get him. They already killed the RP market with League. Wouldnt be shocked if they offered this guy 3/21 mil. Thats too rich for my taste, for a 32 year old RP with no track record in MLB.

[Araqnid]

This is where I am at. Perhaps the biggest reason for our success last season was the bullpen. Too many people are feeling satisfied with the status quo. Certainly we have bigger needs, but I think it would be a mistake to assume that a repeat performance will occur.

100% agree. The bullpen was a chief reason for our ridiculous record in close games, which was the reason we made the playoffs. Given that the BP does look strong going into next year, I wouldn't want to trade any other pieces to bolster our BP, but I have absolutely no problem using FA (and the international market, for that matter) to help out.

[ChaosLex]

No point reading any further once the Dodgers were mentioned. Like Rothensal said, if the Dodgers want a player, they will get him. They already killed the RP market with League. Wouldnt be shocked if they offered this guy 3/21 mil. Thats too rich for my taste, for a 32 year old RP with no track record in MLB.

Agreed partially. I think the Angels stand an equally good chance. Especially if the rumors of them already having offered him a multi-year deal are to be believed.