Cubs News: Report: Contract details for Koji Uehara

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Wednesday, December 14 2016

The Chicago Cubs have already made a big splash this offseason by trading for elite closer Wade Davis but it appears that they are not done fortifying the bullpen with the acquisition of 41-year old Koji Uehara.

MLB insider Jeff Passan is reporting on Wednesday morning that the Cubs have signed him to a one-year deal for six million. It is being reported that Uehara didn't take the highest offer in free agency as he chose a lower offer to be with the Cubs Championship team.

In 2016, he had 3.45 ERA with seven saves, 63 strikeouts, and 0.96 WHIP. He is still a strikeout pitcher with 12.1 K/9 innings and excellent against lefties with a career .183 against them.

The Cubs now have three pitchers on their roster who have recorded final out of a World Series with Uehara, Mike Montgomery, and Wade Davis. He was the fourth-oldest player to throw a pitch in 2016 in the major leagues after Bartolo Colon, Joe Nathan, and R.A. Dickey.

For his career, he has 2.53 ERA with 93 saves, 522 strikeouts, and 0.86 WHIP. He was the Red Sox closer in 2012-2014 and had a 2.19 ERA, 291 strikeouts, and 0.81 WHIP during that time.