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| Friday, January 11 Hasegawa signs one-year deal with Mariners Associated Press |
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SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners added another Japanese star
Friday, signing right-hander Shigetoshi Hasegawa to a one-year
contract with an option for a second season.
Hasegawa could make about $4.5 million if he plays two years for
the Mariners. Hasegawa, 33, spent the past five seasons with the
Anaheim Angels after six years with Japan's Orix Blue Wave.
Hasegawa joins AL MVP Ichiro Suzuki and 2000 Rookie of the Year
Kazuhiro Sasaki in Seattle, becoming the Mariners' third player
from Japan. Hasegawa and Suzuki were teammates for Orix.
"He's looking forward to playing with Ichiro, Sasaki and a team
that has the chance to repeat its performance of the past," said
his agent, Ed Kleven.
One of the Mariners' top offseason priorities was to improve
pitching after their record-setting 116-win season ended with a
five-game loss in the AL championship series to the New York
Yankees.
Hasegawa will replace Jose Paniagua, who was traded to Colorado
in a deal for third baseman Jeff Cirillo. Hasegawa will be a second
right-handed reliever behind Jeff Nelson.
"He is another solid pitcher to add to our bullpen," manager
Lou Piniella said from his home in Tampa, Fla.
"We're pleased to have him. He's experienced, he has had
success and he will fit in well. I liked him as pitcher with the
Angels. He competes very well."
Hasegawa was 5-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 46 appearances for Anaheim
last year. He signed with the Angels as a free agent on Jan. 9,
1997. He has a career record of 30-27 with a 3.85 ERA in 287 games
in the majors.
"Hasegawa is a nice addition to our pitching staff," general
manager Pat Gillick said. "He is a durable long guy with the
ability to pitch often and in a variety of roles. He gives Lou
flexibility and deepens our bullpen."
Hasegawa spent May 20 to June 30 on the disabled list with an
inflamed throwing shoulder and a partial tear of the rotator cuff.
He faced Suzuki on April 13 in Anaheim, marking the first meeting
in major league history that a Japanese-born pitcher faced a
Japanese-born hitter.
Kleven said his client wanted to stay on the West Coast and the
Mariners provided the best option.
"He's going to be a little different than what you're used
to," Kleven said. "He speaks English well, he has a good sense of
humor, he's sarcastic, but he's not a wise guy. He's a breath of
fresh air."
Suzuki and closer Sasaki do not speak English and typically are
quiet in the clubhouse.
Hasegawa spends all but two or three weeks a year in the United
States, Kleven said, and lives in Newport Beach, Calif. He was born
in Kobe, Japan, a sister city of Seattle.
"He loves living in America," Kleven said.
As far as generating further attention from the Japanese media,
Piniella says he doesn't mind.
"I think we're pretty familiar with the situation as far as the
media is concerned," he said.
Up to 100 members of the Japanese media attended some games last
year in Suzuki's rookie season.
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