Masahide Kobayashi

Kobayashi, 33, a nine-year veteran with Japan's Lotte Marines, has served as the team's closer since 2000, posting 227 saves in his career. In 2007, Kobayashi had a bit of an off year by his standards, posting a 3.61 ERA and 1.370 WHIP while notching 27 saves in 29 opportunities (35:12 K:BB ratio in 47.1 innings, 49 games). Over his four previous seasons, Kobayashi had posted a 3.22 ERA and 1.190 WHIP while averaging seven strikeouts per nine innings. Kobayashi had to go on the DL for two weeks in mid-September for what was reported as pain in his spine. He returned to pitch twice at the end of the regular season, but he saw no action for the Marines in the playoffs, so his health is clearly a question mark. Despite his back woes, Cleveland signed him in the offseason, and he's slated to join the bullpen set-up crew as spring training opens; he's got closer-in-waiting potential if he's healthy.

You can find Kobayahi's Japanese career stats at japanesebaseball.com.