Padres Look To Sign Otsuka

By J.J. Cooper
November 20, 2003

The Padres have won the right to negotiate with Chunichi Dragons reliever Akinori Otsuka. Otsuka has been one of the better closers in Japan when healthy, although he has battled elbow trouble.

Several Japanese newspapers reported that the Padres paid Chunichi roughly $300,000 for the rights to negotiate with Otsuka. Otsuka, who will be 32 on Opening Day, was not a free agent, but he and his team agreed to post his rights, making him available to the major leagues in exchange for cash compensation. The Padres have 30 days to reach a deal with Otsuka, or his rights return to the Dragons.

Otsuka was 1-3, 2.09 with 17 saves for the Dragons last season, and was 2-1, 1.28 for Kintetsu in 2002. He led the Pacific League in 35 saves in 1998 when he went 3-2, 2.11. The righthander features a low-90s fastball that has been clocked as high as 95 mph and a good slider. He was posted last year, but no team made a bid for his rights.

Contributing: Gary Garland and Wayne Graczyk.