The Pirates announced that they signed right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to a minor league deal. Igarashi, who spent the past two seasons with the Mets, is a Wasserman Media Group client.
Igarashi posted a 4.66 ERA with 9.8 K/9, 6.5 BB/9 and a 45.6% ground ball rate in 38 2/3 innings for the Mets in 2011. New York released the 32-year-old after the season to allow him to pursue other MLB jobs. He signed a two-year, $3MM with the Mets before the 2010 season, but owns just a 5.74 ERA in 79 career appearances. Jiji Press first reported the agreement.
I think there’ll be a ryota in the streets of Pittsburgh after this signing