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December 08, 2007

Kazuo Fukumori

From Ken Davidoff -

The Yankees, searching for affordable bullpen help, met with the representative for Japanese free agent Kazuo Fukumori during the winter meetings in Nashville.

Alan Nero, Fukumori's agent, told Newsday he met with Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman on Wednesday. Nero said about 10 teams have expressed interest in the righthander. The Padres and Rays are among the reported suitors.

"The Yankees got into it late," Nero said Thursday. "We've given them our medical information and a DVD of his pitching. I don't know to what stage that brings them to."

An official whose team has expressed interest in Fukumori said Nero is looking for a two-year deal. It's possible that that request will not be met, though. The Yankees, having been burned in the past by pitchers such as Steve Karsay, Paul Quantrill and Kyle Farnsworth, are reluctant to commit more than one year to any reliever.

Fukumori, 33, served most recently as a closer for the Rakuten Golden Eagles. He went 4-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 34 appearances, striking out 33 and walking 17 in 36 innings, before going down with an elbow injury. He underwent season-ending surgery in July to remove bone chips from his elbow.

Old, not that good, and a bum elbow. No wonder why Cashman is interested.

I can just see Brian doing his love business when meeting with Kazuo:

Mr. Fukumori, there's something lying heavily on my heart...

Although, I would bet that Mrs. A-Rod would probably be interested in wearing one of his replica Yankees jerseys to the park with his number on the back and "Fuk u mori" appearing (on the back) above it.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at December 8, 2007 01:28 AM

Comments

Posted by: baileywalk at December 8, 2007 05:40 AM

Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 8, 2007 08:13 PM