The Boston Red Sox reportedly are looking overseas to bolster their bullpen for 2021.
According to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox are progressing toward a major-league deal with Japanese relief pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura.
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Sawamura, who turns 33 in April, posted a 2.77 ERA in 400 appearances through his nine Nippon Professional Baseball seasons. The right-hander got off to a slow start in 2020 with the Yomiuri Giants (6.08 ERA in 13.2 innings) but rebounded after being traded to the Chiba Lotte Marines, posting a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings with his new team.
Sawamura boasts a high-90s fastball to go along with a low-90s splitter and a slider.