As the Boston Red Sox search for pitching help, a left-handed prospect from Japan has emerged as a potential target.
According to MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams, the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball have agreed to post left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara for Major League teams this winter, creating an opportunity for the Red Sox to sign him.
Ogasawara, who stands at 5’11” and weighs 183 pounds, has been a consistent performer, starting at least 23 games and surpassing 140 innings in each of the last four seasons. He achieved a career-high of 160 2/3 innings in 2023.
Last season, he pitched 144 1/3 innings with a solid 3.12 ERA and an impressive 3.7% walk rate, the best of his career.
Scouting reports indicate that Ogasawara typically throws his four-seamer in the 91-93 mph range, supported by a low-80s changeup and a slow knuckle curve in the low 70s. While his frame and velocity may not be exceptional, they are comparable to those of 5’10”, 175-pound Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga.
A multi-year contract seems likely, though it may not reach the $53 million guaranteed that Imanaga received, which could rise to $79 million with options.
If Ogasawara proves to be similar to Imanaga, Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should be ready to make an offer.
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