Shintaro Fujinami DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Seattle Mariners have signed right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. Fujinami made his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. In his first season, the right-hander had a 7.18 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP in 79 innings. He struck out 83 batters but struggled with his command, posting a hefty 12.3% walk rate. Last summer, Fujinami spent the entire season in the Mets system. He logged 32 1/3 innings with Triple-A Syracuse and posted a poor 6.68 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP and missed time due to a shoulder injury. Given his struggles in the majors, Fujinami will compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely open the season in the minor league.

Free-agent right-hander Shintaro Fujinami signed a one-year, $3.35 million deal with the New York Mets on Friday that includes $850,000 in incentives. The Japanese hurler was a bust in his first year in the big leagues in 2023 after signing with the Oakland Athletics and was quickly banished to the bullpen after posting a 14.26 ERA in seven starts. The 29-year-old was eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles and fared better in relief there, going 2-0 with a 4.85 ERA (4.13 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, two saves, 15 walks and 32 strikeouts in 29 2/3 frames. Fujinami consistently sits in the upper-90s with his fastball, but he struck out only 83 hitters in 79 total innings in his first taste of the majors last year and walked an alarming 5.1 batters per nine innings. The Mets will look to fix his control issues, and if they can, he could be a decent bullpen piece with strikeout upside.