The Indians are interested in Japanese right-hander Shinobu Fukuhara, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The 34-year-old is a free agent and can sign with any team.
Fukuhara posted a 2.59 ERA with 11.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 48 2/3 innings for the Hanshin Tigers in 2011. According to NPB Tracker, Fukuhara's fastball tops out around 92 mph and he also throws a slider and curve. From 2007-10, he posted a 5.24 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 as a starter and reliever in Japan.
not fun at all to see someone playing with japanese names, especially by someone who doesn’t know almost anything about Japan and Japanese baseball. fukumyra? fukuplayishi? fukuichiro? boy, my people in japan are furious about your comment.