Koji Uehara

2013

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2012

Uehara pitched well for Texas after a deadline-deal with Baltimore, walking one and fanning 23 in 18 innings during the regular season (though five homers allowed in 18 innings bloated his ERA). He was touched for a homer in all three appearances in the postseason however, and it's led to some teams inquiring about his availability. Texas seems reluctant to move him, and he should return as the primary seventh-inning reliever bridging the gap to the Mike Adams/Joe Nathan duo. He continues to flash excellent control and miniscule WHIP figures, a trend that is expected to continue despite his postseason failures.

2011

After spending most of the first half of the season on the DL with an elbow injury, Uehara came back to pitch in the bullpen and turned in a fantastic season in 2010. He converted 13 of 15 save chances, turning in a 55:5 K:BB in the process. As an extreme strike-thrower, Uehara tends to be a little gopher-ball prone, but on the flip side those homers tend to be solo shots. He signed a one-year deal to return to the O's in the offseason, but his chances of serving as the full-time closer took a significant hit with the addition of Kevin Gregg.

2010

Uehara made 12 starts before his elbow wore down. He tried to rehab in time to pitch out of the bullpen in September, but things didn't work out. It seems Uehara wants to stick it out in the rotation in 2010 while the Orioles want to make him a reliever. Uehara was a closer for one season in Japan and was successful in the role. The Orioles are stockpiled with young starters so expect him to move to the bullpen, especially if any injuries arise. He would be a sleeper to close games.

2009

Uehara had a John Smoltz-like career path in recent seasons (rotation to closer and back again), but finished last season strong as a starter. The 34-year-old is expected to take over as the O's No. 2 starter behind Jeremy Guthrie, although he profiles more as a back of the rotation option according to many scouts. His 2008 numbers were rather pedestrian, but keep in mind that he was dealing with both a leg injury and a contentious relationship with the Yomiuri Giants, his team in the Japan Central League.

2008

Uehara had been one of Japan's best starters over the past several seasons (he was in Japan's rotation with Daisuke Matsuzaka at the 2006 WBC). However, when he went down with calf inflammation in training camp, Yomiuri moved him to the bullpen (supposedly on a temporary basis) to ease him back into action upon his return, and the team just kept him in the closer role, despite Uehara's wishes to move back into the rotation. Still, Uehara was a stunning success as a closer, saving 32 games in 36 chances and posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.820 WHIP in 55 games (47:4 K:BB ratio in 62 innings; yes, just four stinkin' walks all year). Uehara would like to leave Yomiuri and sign with an MLB team; he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2008, and almost certainly, he'll try to sign with an MLB team for the 2009 season. Yomiuri signed Marc Kroon this winter, so they'll move Uehara back to the rotation, and likely work him hard since everyone knows he's not coming back. Still, in keeper leagues, he's well worth the roster spot.