When the Orioles made a scouting push to the Far East for the first time in their history this year, it was unclear whether they had committed to being serious investors the next time a high-profile Japanese free agent became available.
In the Orioles' first offseason since naming John Stockstill international scouting director, the question remains unanswered.
That's primarily because the 2008 class of Japanese players entering the U.S. so far is widely considered underwhelming. There is no major league-ready impact player such as Daisuke Matsuzaka or Ichiro Suzuki.
This year's group is led by two back-end-of-the-rotation starters, an unproven amateur, an aging reliever and a reserve catcher.
Yet, in a sense, this class might be a perfect fit for the Orioles' fledgling foray in Japan. No apparent superstars and perhaps no bidding wars. But two pitchers, in particular, who could help the Orioles fill out their rotation.
"We have a better idea, certainly, than we did one year ago as to what's available to us and what makes sense for us in that market," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "We will see how the market unfolds. Obviously we'll have to balance [the Japanese market] with what is obtainable in the U.S. market and go from there."
Stockstill said the Orioles have had "initial discussions" with three pitchers but would not offer specifics.
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility is right-hander Junichi Tazawa, 22, an amateur who created an international controversy by asking to be passed over in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft so he could go directly to the U.S.
Tazawa, who has a low-90s fastball, has the highest upside of the available group, but he is raw and unproven and is expected to command a lofty U.S. deal despite likely starting in the minors. The Boston Red Sox are the leading candidate to sign Tazawa; the Orioles weren't ever really in the conversation.
Signing an expensive, albeit talented, project as their first Japanese purchase doesn't seem to be in line with the Orioles' philosophy.
Instead, they seem to be a better immediate fit with a pair of 33-year-old right-handers who were once among Japan's most accomplished pitchers: Koji Uehara of the Yomiuri Giants and Kenshin Kawakami of the Chunichi Dragons.
Both are unrestricted free agents - they are not subject to posting fees the way Matsuzaka was - and are projected as mid- to low-level starters in the majors.
