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Texas Rangers rumors: Kyuji Fujikawa reportedly close to deal with Rangers

The Rangers are reportedly close to signing reliever Kyuji Fujikawa to a one year deal with a 2016 option

Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers rumors:  Kyuji Fujikawa, a righthanded relief pitcher is reportedly close to a deal with the Texas Rangers on a contract for the 2015 season, which would include a 2015 team option, per T.R. Sullivan and Jeff Wilson on Twitter.

Fujikawa, 34, signed a deal prior to the 2013 season with the Chicago Cubs that paid him $4 million per year for the 2013 and 2014 seasons along with a $1 million signing bonus, but he only pitched 25 largely ineffective innings over those two years, as he missed most of that period with Tommy John surgery.

Eno Sarris did a write-up on Fujikawa in November of 2012, when he was coming over to the United States from the Japanese League, and describes him as a fastball-splitter guy who has had issues staying healthy.  Fujikawa will presumably be a middle reliever for the Rangers in 2015.