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Hideki Okajima | Relief Pitcher

Team: Oakland Athletics
Age / DOB:  (37) / 12/25/1975
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 195
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
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Recent News

Athletics purchased the contract of RHP Hideki Okajima from Triple-A Sacramento.
Okajima, 37, had a 2.16 ERA and 18/2 K/BB ratio over 16 2/3 innings in Triple-A. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011 as a member of the Red Sox. May 17 - 5:34 PM

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Date:
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Athletics signed LHP Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Okajima, now 37, posted a 0.94 ERA and 36/6 K/BB ratio over 47 2/3 innings last season for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011, when he had a 4.32 ERA over seven relief appearances with the Red Sox. He'll try to win a bullpen spot this spring.
Feb 12 - 11:49 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Athletics have signed Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract.

The deal will be finalized once the left-hander completes a physical, which isn't a guarantee given that he failed one with the Yankees last winter. Okajima hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011, when he posted a 4.32 ERA over seven relief appearances. The 37-year-old is coming off a stellar year for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, though, as he compiled a 0.94 ERA over 47 2/3 innings.
Related: Athletics
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Feb 11 - 12:56 PM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Athletics are close to signing Hideki Okajima.

It presumably would be a minor league deal. Okajima hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011, when he posted a 4.32 ERA over seven relief appearances. The 37-year-old is coming off a stellar year for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, as he compiled a 0.94 ERA over 47 2/3 innings.
Related: Athletics
Source: Susan Slusser on Twitter
Feb 11 - 8:13 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Athletics are still considering signing free agent left-hander Hideki Okajima.

Okajima pitched for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks last season, compiling an excellent 0.94 ERA over 47 2/3 innings. The 37-year-old hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011 when he posted a 4.32 ERA over seven relief appearances. The A's would likely prefer to sign him to a minor league deal.
Related: Athletics
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Feb 5 - 11:22 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the A's are considering signing Hideki Okajima.

Okajima pitched brilliantly last season for Japan's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, posting a 0.94 ERA across 47 2/3 innings. The 37-year-old left-hander owns a solid 3.11 career ERA and 1.25 career WHIP in the major leagues. He can probably be had on a one-year contract.
Related: Athletics
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 28 - 9:10 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Hideki Okajima would like to return to the major leagues.

Okajima, 36, was unscored upon in his first 46 appearances for the Softbank Hawks in Japan this season before allowing three runs in a game last week. The left-hander's previous tenure in the big leagues ended with a whimper, but he put up a 3.11 ERA over 261 career appearances, so someone should be willing to give him a shot if he indeed does want to return to the states.
Source: Boston Globe
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 10:13:00 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Hideki Okajima has signed with the Softbank Hawks.

"While I didn't think I would be able to play baseball this year, Softbank was the first team that I heard from," Okajima said. "There is pressure, but I want to show off what I did in America." Okajima failed a physical with the Yankees in February and was subsequently released. The 36-year-old lefty posted a 3.11 ERA over 261 career major league relief appearances but spent most of 2011 at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Source: NPB Tracker
Mon, Mar 5, 2012 12:05:00 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Yankees released LHP Hideki Okajima.

An undisclosed injury caused Okajima to fail his physical, so he won't get a dime from the Bombers and is now free to sign with another team. The 36-year-old lefty reportedly was considering retirement earlier this offseason, so perhaps he'll just decide to call it quits. He owns a 3.11 ERA over 261 career relief appearances but spent most of 2011 at Triple-A.
Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:53:00 PM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

David Waldstein of the New York Times reports that Hideki Okajima has failed his physical with the Yankees.

It's being reported by a couple other outlets, a well. Assuming it's true, his contract with the Yankees would be voided and he'd become a free agent. It's not clear what ailment caused Okajima to fail. The 36-year-old lefty reportedly was considering retirement before he caught on with the Yanks, so perhaps that will be an option for him again.
Source: David Waldstein on Twitter
Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:28:00 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Yankees signed LHP Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract.

The deal also includes an invite to spring training. Okajima, 36, only made seven appearances with the Red Sox this past season before spending the rest of the year in the minors, but he could still have some value as a left-handed specialist. The veteran southpaw owns a 3.11 ERA over 261 career relief appearances.
Source: David Waldstein on Twitter
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 10:13:00 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

According to the Japanese website Sponichi, the Yankees are negotiating a minor league contract with veteran reliever Hideki Okajima.

The story was passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Okajima, 36, was demoted by the Red Sox in late-May after posting a 4.32 ERA over seven appearances, but he had a 2.29 ERA and 48/9 K/BB ratio in 51 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket. The veteran southpaw has struggled in each of the last two seasons, but holds an impressive 3.11 ERA in the majors.
Related: Yankees
Source: NPB Tracker on Twitter
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 08:59:00 AM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Hideki Okajima told the Providence Journal that he is thinking about retirement.

"I don't know what I'm going to be doing next season," Okajima said through an interpreter. "I might retire. I might go back to Japan. I might be over here again. I'm not really sure. I just have to see where the offseason takes me once I get there." Okajima accepted a minor league assignment after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox in May. The 35-year-old southpaw has posted a 2.29 ERA and 48/9 K/BB ratio over 51 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket, but the Red Sox haven't shown an interest in bringing him back to the major leagues.
Source: Providence Journal
Mon, Sep 5, 2011 05:47:00 PM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Red Sox sent LHP Hideki Okajima outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The Red Sox designated Okajima for assignment last week to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired southpaw Franklin Morales. The 35-year-old native of Japan posted a 4.32 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8 1/3 innings this season for the Red Sox. This will be his second stint in the minors this season.
Tue, May 24, 2011 03:42:00 PM
Hideki Okajima - R - Athletics

Red Sox designated LHP Hideki Okajima for assignment.

Okajima is getting the boot so that the Red Sox can clear a roster spot for newly-acquired southpaw Franklin Morales. The 35-year-old native of Japan has posted a 4.32 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 8 1/3 innings this season.
Thu, May 19, 2011 10:56:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1John Jaso
2Derek Norris
1B1Brandon Moss
2Nate Freiman
3Daric Barton
2B1Eric Sogard
2Adam Rosales
3Scott Sizemore
SS1Jed Lowrie
2Hiroyuki Nakajima
3B1Josh Donaldson
LF1Yoenis Cespedes
CF1Coco Crisp
2Chris Young
RF1Josh Reddick
DH1Seth Smith
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Brett Anderson
2Jarrod Parker
3Tommy Milone
4Bartolo Colon
5A.J. Griffin
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Grant Balfour
2Ryan Cook
3Sean Doolittle
4Jerry Blevins
5Pat Neshek
6Jesse Chavez
7Hideki Okajima
8Fernando Rodriguez