Mariners sign three-time NPB All-Star Shintaro Fujinami

The Mariners are hoping to once more work their magic, signing the Japanese reliever to a minor league deal with a spring training invite.

The Seattle Mariners have finally been able to sign a Japanese pitcher, albeit it isn’t Roki Sasaki. Instead, as reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the club has agreed a minor league deal with Shintaro Fujinami.

As noted by Morosi, the deal comes with a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training next month, with Mariners pitchers and catchers reporting to Peoria on Feb. 12. It may or may not interest some people to know, that Fujinami is a Boras Corporation client.

The 30-year-old is a physical specimen at 6-foot-6 and 180 pounds, most renowned for a fastball which can reach up to 103 mph. He has a three-quarters style delivery, and his pitching arsenal also includes a splitter capable of inducing a high strike rate, along with a mid-to-high 80s slider.

Of course it’s one thing to have skills and potential, but another thing altogether to actually fulfil it. In this respect, Fujinami has yet to prove he’s capable of truly succeeding in the Majors, after first arriving in North America from Japan at the beginning of 2023.

Up and down 2023 season for Shintaro Fujinami

The three-time NPB All-Star started his Major League career with the Oakland Athletics, but to begin with was a disaster to open the 2023 season. He went 0-4 in four starts which only lasted a combined 15 innings, as he recorded a terrible 14.40 ERA.

It was only after Fujinami moved to the bullpen that he began to show more of what he was capable of. He produced a 3.32 ERA and 25.6 percent strikeout rate over his last 21.2 innings in Oakland, before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in July of 2023.

Remaining in the bullpen, the righty began very well in Baltimore but dipped as the season progressed. By the end of the 2023 campaign as a whole, he had gone 7-8 and produced a 7.18 ERA, 4.61 FIP and 1.494 WHIP in 79.0 innings over 64 games, including seven starts.

Fujinami’s production was better in Baltimore overall compared to previously in Oakland, with a 4.85 ERA, 4.13 FIP and 1.213 WHIP in 29.2 innings over 30 appearances. Still, the Orioles let him go at the end of the season, with him eventually signing on with the New York Mets.

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Injury issues with the Mets

The former Hanshin Tiger was expected to challenge for a place in the Mets’ bullpen, but a shoulder injury during spring training meant he began the 2024 season on the injured list. When he finally returned in June, he would play out the season in the minors, starting well but experiencing a drop in productivity towards the end of the year.

Following the season Fujinami elected for free agency, and it will be interesting to see what the Mariners can get out of him. At least he is in a prime place to find success given the M’s previous success with reclamation projects for the bullpen. with Paul Sewald offering arguably the best example.

In general the Mariners bullpen is a strength, coming off a campaign where they ranked ninth in the Majors with a 3.71 ERA, fourth with a 1.17 WHIP, and second with a .215 batting average and only 184 walks. In fact they are expected to be even better this coming season with Matt Brash back after missing all of 2024, and a full year expected from Gregory Santos.

What is your take on the addition of Fujinami? How much confidence do you have in the Mariners, to make him into a quality bullpen option in Seattle this coming season? Let us know in the comments section below.