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Hideki Okajima: Signing with Red Sox ‘not a mistake’ 05.20.11 at 12:07 am ET
By Alex Speier

It has been a challenging year for left-hander Hideki Okajima. The 35-year-old, an All-Star in 2007, was non-tendered by the Red Sox in December, making him a free agent so that the team would not have to give him a raise over the $2.75 million he earned in 2010. But Okajima ended up returning to the Sox, signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal.

But the left-hander has been subjected to some confounding firsts in 2011. The club optioned him to Triple-A Pawtucket to open the year. He remained in Pawtucket until mid-April, when the team recalled him after optioning Felix Doubront.

But Okajima was seldom used by the Sox since his return to the majors. He appeared in seven games over roughly a month in the majors, and had not seen game action since May 9 against the Twins (a game, incidentally, in which Okajima claimed the victory after tossing two scoreless innings). He has a 4.32 ERA, six strikeouts and five walks in 8 1/3 innings, and had seemingly been passed by Rich Hill as the go-to left-hander for the Sox.

And so, when the Sox made a deal for another left-hander, Franklin Morales, on Thursday night, they cleared a spot on the major league and 40-man rosters by designating Okajima for assignment. GM Theo Epstein said that the Sox would explore the trade market for Okajima; if none materializes, then the club will return him to Pawtucket.

For Okajima, this latest turn of his season represents uncharted territory.

“I started the season down in the Minor Leagues, so I know I had to regain the team’s confidence in my pitching,” Okajima told reporters through an interpreter. “It is my first time in this situation so I’m not sure of what happens next.”

That said, Okajima did not begrudge the Sox’ decisions, and suggested that he did not regret re-signing this winter with the only club for whom he’s pitched since coming to the U.S. in 2007.

“Having re-signed with Boston during the offseason, it is disappointing that this is happening but signing here was not a mistake,” said Okajima. “I am very grateful to the opportunity the Red Sox have given me over five years.”

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  • Danthros

    Disappointed to hear about this news. If we were going to get rid of anyone, it should have been Jenks.

  • dan c

    Oka has been a good asset for the Sox. He was instramental in the 2007 world series run, and even though hes been kicked to the curb as they say, he still speaks highly of the Sox organization, and that shows some class.

  • ck9

    they should designate theo assignment

  • Arnold Wray

    Well it’s a no brainer, he isn’t pitching at a major league level. What else could they do. Winning is what it’s all about. DUH!

  • MLBDude

    Actually, this is a weird move. Wheeler gets pounded nearly every time and Okie goes 2 scoreless in last outing for win following a tiem when he got in 3 times, 2 outs, 1 inning and then 2 hits in and extra-inning loss. He had been pitched much better since that bad first outing. Nice move, Theo. Rely on Wheeler, Jenks and a fairly unproven Hill. And take the chance of moving a guy that closed last year strong and seemingly found himself this year.

  • BC

    Has any Red Sox player in recent memory promised less and delivered more than Hideki Okajima?

    Oki, if this is the end of the line for you in Boston, domo arigato for your service!

  • Mike

    Sad. But you can’t really expect them to move Jenks with the fat contract they gave him. So were stuck with Jenk’s and Wheeler’s bloated era’s.

  • Maureen

    Another reclamation project in Morales – give me a break – this is another example of Theo making a bad personnel move.

  • Sean

    Theo speaking about Morales:
    “If we can get him to repeat his delivery and throw strikes he can be tough to hit. We’re going to use him as the second lefty and see if we can capture his upside… He was one of the top prospects in all of baseball a few years ago. He’s a bit erratic with his strike-throwing.”

    If he can throw strikes, he can be tough to hit. That’s brilliant, Theo, perhaps you should do color commentary, too. I’m sorry, but dishing out more money for a top prospect from a FEW YEARS AGO (which did not come to fruition), and HOPING he’ll find the strike zone again just doesn’t fill me with much confidence.

    Yet another mistake, Theo.

    For those who feel Okajima’s not performing, let’s take a closer look at the numbers. Take out that disasterous first appearance and his ERA goes from 4.32 to 1.17. Add to that the fact that he’s one of the few who can stretch innings (as was seen in his last two performances), and at a bargain basement price we’re getting a lot more bang for the buck.

    Yeah, this is the guy we should get rid of so we can keep Wheeler and Jenks on the roster, and bring in a guy who MIGHT be able to hit the strike zone.

    Date IP H ER BB SO ERA
    4/19 0.2 2 3 1 1 40.50
    4/26 0.1 0 0 0 0 27.00
    4/29 1.0 0 0 2 0 13.50
    4/30 1.2 0 0 0 1 7.36
    5/2 0.2 1 0 0 0 6.23
    5/4 2.0 2 1 0 1 5.68
    5/9 2.0 2 0 2 3 4.32
    — – – – – ——
    8.1 7 4 5 6 4.32

    Without 4/19 game:
    7.2 5 1 4 5 1.17

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