The Athletics announced (via Twitter) that they have selected the contract of left-hander Hideki Okajima from Triple-A Sacramento and designated right-hander Chris Resop for assignment to clear room on both the 40-man and 25-man rosters.
Okajima, 37, was a fixture in the Red Sox bullpen from 2007-09, when he posted a combined 2.72 ERA, 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 192 innings. In 2007, he made the All-Star team and finished sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Okajima's command began to erode in 2010, and his strikeout rate dropped as well. He spent much of the 2011 season in the minors before returning to Japan, where he was dominant in 2012. After signing a minor league deal with Oakland this offseason, he had a 2.16 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 2/3 Triple-A innings this season.
Resop, 30, had a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings for the defending AL West champs this season. He struck out 13 and walked 10 in those 18 innings. Over parts of eight Major League seasons between the Marlins, Braves, Pirates, Angels and A's, Resop has a 4.62 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9.
