MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports that the Halos have signed Japanese reliever Hiroyuki Kobayashi to a minor league deal that includes an invite to Spring Training.
Kobayashi began his professional career playing in the Japanese Pacific League with the Chiba Lotte Mariners in 2007, when he pitched to a 2.69 ERA over 170.2 innings. After three seasons as a starter, Kobayashi transitioned to a bullpen role in 2010. The 34-year-old did not pitch professionally in 2012.
I’m not too excited about this signing, but I am about the signings of Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson. Those two signings are going to have a major impact on the success of our 2013 team. When you add Burnett and Madson into the ‘pen with Frieri, Downs, Jepsen, and Williams, our biggest weakness last year looks to be one of our biggest strengths for this year.
It’s a minor league deal…I think it’s a good move. The pen last year lacked depth, and now there is tons of depth! If anything, Kobayashi should be able to get people out who have never seen him before. It’s a low risk signing, so overall a good thing.