Japanese Reliever Added To Bullpen

The Indians announced today that they have signed right-hander Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010. Kobayashi, 33, averaged more than 30 saves a season over the past seven years for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League. He is one of just three pitchers in the history of Japanese baseball to accumulate more than 200 career saves. He has 227.

“The signing of Masahide Kobayashi marks the first contract ever signed by a Japanese professional baseball player into the Cleveland Indians franchise and, more importantly, accomplishes one of our primary off-season goals of adding depth to the back end of our bullpen,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

“Masa has pitched and succeeded at the highest level and on the biggest stage of the Japanese Professional Baseball League. He should be a valuable addition to our bullpen.”

Kazuhito Tadano is the only Japanese player to have played for the big-league club. Signed as an amateur free agent at age 23 in 2003, he went 1-1 with a 4.47 ERA in 15 games including four starts for Cleveland in 2004 and 2005. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor-league outfielder Ramon Alvarado on April 6, 2006, and remains in the A's farm system.

The addition of Kobayashi brings the Indians' 40-man roster to 40.

Kobayashi was the number one draft pick by Chiba Lotte in 1999, and compiled a career record of 36-34 with 227 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 303 games, including 10 starts over the past nine seasons.

He led the Pacific League in saves in 2005 (34) and was a member of the Japanese Olympic baseball team in 2004.

Shapiro emphasized that Joe Borowski is still the Indians' closer and that Kobayashi will work in a setup role.

"He'll be part of the mix," Shapiro said, "most likely working in the seventh and eighth innings and providing insurance in case something happens with Joe."

Kobayashi will receive $3 million for each of the next two seasons. The club option is for a $3.25 million contract in 2010.

In 2007, Kobayashi had a 2-7 record with a 3.61 ERA and 27 saves in 49 appearances. He spent time on the disabled list in September with neck irritation, but finished the season on the active roster and performed well in the playoffs.

He declared free agency on Nov. 2. Being an unrestricted free agent, a posting fee to Chiba Lotte is not required to sign Kobayashi.

The six-foot, 195-pounder has displayed good control throughout his career. Scouts like his four-seam fastball, which he usually throws anywhere between 90 and 93 mph, and good slider. He has developed a split-finger or two-seam fastball, which he throws in the upper 80s and uses to keep left-handed batters off balance.

MASAHIDE KOBAYASHI'S PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

Year	Team	Age	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO
1999	Chiba Lotte	25	5	5	2.68	46	0	124.3	93	55	107
2000	Chiba Lotte	26	11	6	2.13	65	14	109.7	87	37	72
2001	Chiba Lotte	27	0	4	4.33	48	33	52	54	13	47
2002	Chiba Lotte	28	2	1	0.83	43	37	43.3	37	6	41
2003	Chiba Lotte	29	0	2	2.87	44	33	47	45	11	30
2004	Chiba Lotte	30	8	5	3.90	51	20	57.7	51	19	50
2005	Chiba Lotte	31	2	2	2.58	46	29	45.3	49	9	33
2006	Chiba Lotte	32	6	2	2.68	53	34	53.7	49	8	48
2007	Chiba Lotte	33	2	7	3.61	49	27	47.3	53	12	35
	Career Totals		36	34	2.79	303	227	580.3	507	170	463