The Boston Red Sox are set to add Japanese free-agent reliever Hirokazu Sawamura to their bullpen, Major League Baseball's official site reported Wednesday.
The American League club has yet to announce the right-hander's signing due to some procedural matters, according to MLB.com.
Sawamura finished last season with the Pacific League's Lotte Marines following a trade from the Central League's Yomiuri Giants.
The 32-year-old would be the latest in a line of Japanese relievers to play for Boston, following Hideki Okajima, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa.
Sawamura served as the Giants' closer in 2015 and in 2016 -- when he led the CL with 37 saves. However, he lost that job after he missed all of 2017. In 22 games with the Marines last year, he was 0-2 with one save, and 13 holds. He struck out 29 batters in 21 innings, with a 1.71 ERA.
Over 352 career games, he has recorded 48 wins, 52 losses and 75 saves with a 2.77 ERA.
Sawamura will be the second Japanese pitcher to move to the majors this winter. Nippon Ham Fighters ace Kohei Arihara signed with the Texas Rangers after being posted. Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano, one of Japan's premier pitchers, was also posted but chose to play in Japan in 2021 rather than accept one of the big league offers he received.
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