The Tampa Bay Rays will add a potential middle-of-the-order bat after agreeing to a two-year, $12 million contract with Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The Rays also will owe his former Japanese team, Yokohama, a 20 percent release fee — $2.4 million.
The 28-year-old Tsutsugo is a lefty hitter who has slugged 205 home runs in 978 games for Yokohama since 2010.
He hit a career-best 44 home runs in 133 games in 2016 and followed with 28 homers a year later, 38 in 2018 and 29 last season. He has a career batting average of .284 with 615 RBIs and a .382 on-base percentage.
–The Milwaukee Brewers announced that they signed left-hander Brett Anderson to a one-year deal.
ESPN reported that Anderson’s deal is worth $5 million. He could make an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.
The 31-year-old Anderson set a career high for victories last season went he went 13-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 31 starts for the Oakland Athletics. Last season marked just the third time the injury-prone Anderson made 30 or more starts in a season since reaching the majors with the Athletics in 2009.
–The Boston Red Sox, who lost free agent starting pitcher Rick Porcello to the New York Mets on Thursday, are adding left-hander Martin Perez on a one-year contract worth $6 million, multiple outlets reported.
The agreement reportedly includes a $6.25 million club option for 2021.
Perez, 28, was 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA with the Minnesota Twins last season, appearing in 32 games (29 starts). He struck out 135 and walked 67 in 165 1/3 innings. He has a career mark of 53-56 with a 4.72 ERA in eight MLB seasons, the first seven of which came with the Texas Rangers, where he posted double-digit wins in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
–The Texas Rangers formally announced the signing of free-agent right-hander Jordan Lyles to a two-year deal. He agreed to a package worth $16 million, according to multiple reports from late last week.
The nine-year veteran split last season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, going 7-1 in 11 starts with Milwaukee after a July 29 trade. Overall, he finished the season 12-8 with a 4.15 ERA across 28 starts.
Texas also signed left-hander Jeffrey Springs to a one-year deal. The Rangers designated Springs for assignment on Dec. 2 when they needed to clear a roster spot to claim right-hander Jimmy Herget off waivers from Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
