The Yankees are going to sign left handed pitcher Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract. Since coming over from Japan in 2007, the lefty has spent his career with the Red Sox, though he pitched in just seven big league games for them this past season.
Overall, Okajima’s been good at striking batters out (7.86 K/9) and he’s got decent control (3.14 BB/9). He doesn’t get many grounders (36.8%). He owns a career 3.11 ERA/3.86 FIP/4.11 xFIP split (61 ERA-; 86 FIP-; 96 xFIP-).
He’ll have a chance to make the team out of Spring Training, and his job would be, obviously, to get lefty batters out. He’s pretty damn good at that. He’s not helpless against right handed batters (.253/.323/.397/.720), but kills lefties (.218/.277/.323/.600).
It’s a minor league deal so there’s literally no risk attached. At worst, they get a look. At best, they get another knockout lefty pitcher.
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