Junichi

Tazawa

It’s an independent league team in Japan, not affiliated with Nippon Professional Baseball. Tazawa was released by the Reds in early April after previously joining the club on a non-guaranteed minor league contract. The 34-year-old former Red Sox setup man has probably already thrown his last pitch in Major League Baseball.

Tazawa was in Reds camp this spring on a non-guaranteed minor league contract after pitching to a 4.15 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 21 2/3 innings last season at the Triple-A level. The 33-year-old native of Japan posted a 2.62 ERA in 175 1/3 innings with the Red Sox between 2012-2014, but that feels like ages ago.

Tazawa had been at Triple-A with the Cubs, posting a 4.00 ERA and 17/6 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. He’s been assigned to Double-A Chattanooga.

Tazawa signed a second minor league contract with the Cubs at the end of spring training and went on to post a 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 17/6 K/BB ratio in 18 innings of relief at Triple-A Iowa. The 33-year-old right-hander will presumably try to latch on with a different MLB organization. He was among the most effective and reliable bullpen arms in baseball between 2012-2014 with the Red Sox before mostly struggling in Miami and Anaheim.

This confirms a report from Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Tazawa was given his release over the weekend, but it didn’t take the two sides very long to hammer out a new agreement. He’ll begin the year in extended spring training and would make a $900,000 salary in the majors. The 32-year-old held a rough 7.07 ERA last year in 31 appearances with the Angels and Marlins.

The veteran reliever was having a good spring but couldn’t crack the strong Cubs’ roster. The 32-year-old had a rough 7.07 ERA last year in 31 games with the Angels and Marlins.

His arrival at spring training will be pushed back a few days but it shouldn’t affect his ability to make the roster. The veteran reliever signed a minor league contract with the Cubs last month. It has been several years since Tazawa was an effective reliever with the Red Sox. He spent last year with the Marlins and Angels while recording a dreadful 7.07 ERA in 31 games. He did manage to strike out 28 batters in 28 innings, although he also issued 16 walks and served up seven bombs in that same span.

The deal was reported by Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Tazawa split last year between the Marlins and Angels, combining to post a 7.07 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 31 agonizingly-poor outings. He managed to strike out 28 batters in 28 innings but also issued 16 walks and gave up seven homers in that short time. The 32-year-old has struggled in each of the last four seasons and seems unlikely to ever get back to pitching like he did when he was one of the better relievers in baseball with the Red Sox for a few years.

Finally recovered from Tommy John surgery, Tazawa struck out 19 batters and walked just three in 14 1/3 August innings at the Triple-A level. He’ll probably be limited to low-pressure situations in the early going.

Tazawa hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2010. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 2.51 ERA and 19/3 K/BB ratio over 14 1/3 innings with the PawSox. He’ll likely be used in lower leverage situations initially.