BOSTON — The Red Sox signed their third pitcher from Japan on Thursday, adding right-handed amateur Junichi Tazawa to an organization that already included Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima. Tazawa said he spoke to his countrymen before signing the $3.3 million, three-year deal and was impressed with the way the organization had helped them acclimate to the United States.
Tazawa, 22, played four years for Nippon Oil of the Japan Industrial League. He was 13-1 with 5 saves and a 0.80 ERA this season in 21 games, 11 of them starts, striking out 114 batters and walking 15 over 113 innings and pitching four shutouts.
Spurning the Japanese pro leagues to sign with an American club, Tazawa had also drawn interest from the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
Counts against Bonds dropped
SAN FRANCISCO — Federal prosecutors dropped four counts of lying to a grand jury against Barry Bonds, leaving him to face trial next year on 10 counts of making false statements plus an additional obstruction of justice charge. Bonds faces the same potential sentence range — probation to roughly two years in prison — if convicted. His trial is scheduled to begin March 2.
Julio and Brewers agree to deal
MILWAUKEE — Free agent reliever Jorge Julio agreed to a $950,000, one-year contract with Milwaukee, adding a right-hander with experience as a closer to the Brewers’ thin bullpen. The 29-year-old split last season between Cleveland and Atlanta, going 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 27 relief appearances. He was released by the Indians in June but finished the season strong for the Braves, earning all three of his victories with a 0.73 ERA in 12 appearances.
Giants sign Renteria
SAN FRANCISCO — Edgar Renteria joined the San Francisco Giants, receiving an $18.5 million, two-year contract. Renteria gets a $2 million signing bonus, $7 million next year and $9 million in 2010. The Giants have a $10.5 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.
Cards acquire Greene
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals addressed one of their major offseason concerns, acquiring shortstop Khalil Greene from the Padres. The trade sent minor league pitchers Mark Worrell and a prospect to be named to San Diego. Neither of the prospects were on the 40-man roster. The 29-year-old Greene hit just .213 with 10 home runs last year, and struck out 100 times in 105 games.
Lincoln, Reds agree to deal
CINCINNATI — Reliever Mike Lincoln agreed to stay with the Cincinnati Reds, accepting a $4 million, two-year contract following a comeback season. The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA in a career-high 64 games this year. He missed more than three seasons following elbow-ligament replacement surgery in July 2004 while with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Smaller raises last season
NEW YORK — The average salary in Major League Baseball this season was $2.93 million, the players’ association said in its annual report. The 3.6 percent increase was the smallest since 2004, when the average declined 2.5 percent from the previous season. Just seven of 171 free agents had agreed to contracts entering Thursday, but the pace was expected to pick up at the winter meetings, which start Monday in Las Vegas.
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