Hideki Okajima

The Yankees have signed former Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract. The lefty reliever, who turned 36 on Dec. 25, appeared in only seven games for the Red Sox last season, none after May 9. Okajima was outstanding for the Red Sox for two seasons after coming over from Japan. He had a 2.40 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 2007 and ‘08 and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His decline started in 2009 and never stopped. Okajima has a 3.90 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over the last three seasons.

DENVER - When it happened the first time, in 2004, Terry Francona was stricken with temporary amnesia. "I actually don't remember getting out to the field," the Red Sox manager said of a moment burnished deep in New England memory banks. "You wait your whole life for that minute, and I don't know where the hell it went. " A minute that used to recur like a comet, once every 86 years or so and missed by generations of Sox fans, is beginning to feel like a birthright. For the second time in four seasons, the Red Sox are World Series champions, Francona and the rest of...

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff PAWTUCKET, R.I. — With the injury to Rich Hill on Wednesday afternoon leaving the Red Sox without a lefthanded reliever in the bullpen, Hideki Okajima said he harbored little, if any, hope of getting called up to fill that open spot. Speaking through an interpreter, the 35-year-old lefthanded reliever seemed emphatic in his reply when asked if he expected to be called up. "I'd rather not be called up in this situation," he said tonight. In fact, Okajima said he hoped to move on after being designated for assignment on May 20....

Late in Game 4 of the World Series, teammates burst into laughter and pointed toward Daisuke Matsuzaka's head. Coco Crisp had strategically placed a bubble gum balloon atop the 27-year-old righthander's cap without him noticing. Wondering what the jocularity was about, Matsuzaka finally noticed the bubble as it fell off his hat and he broke out in a grin; he then acknowledged the bow of a smiling David Ortiz. "That smile is priceless," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.

Daisuke Matsuzaka needs Tommy John surgery and may have thrown his last pitch for the Red Sox. The notebook has Rich Hill likely out for the year with an elbow injury and Hideki Okajima seeking a trade. The minor league notebook has Andrew Miller getting an early start in games. Michael Vega has the story.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Japanese media is here in large numbers again, because Daisuke Matsuzaka continues to make great strides in his return from Tommy John Surgery. Matsuzaka had a very impressive bullpen session this morning, throwing hard and also throwing his secondary pitches. Interestingly, Matsuzaka was being watched by a few Red Sox personnel, but most notably Luis Tiant, who was offering suggestions to him in between innings. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Matsuzaka could be ready to pitch again in June.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff The Yankees have signed Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract. The lefty reliever, who turned 36 on Dec. 25, appeared in only seven games for the Red Sox last season, none after May 9. Okajima was outstanding for the Red Sox for two seasons after coming over from Japan. He had a 2.40 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 2006 and '07 and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His decline started in 2008 and never stopped. Okajima has a 3.90 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over the last three seasons.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Lefthanded reliever Rich Hill, who left yesterday's game clutching his arm, has a serious injury according to a major league source and is likely to require season-ending surgery. Hill and the Red Sox will seek a second opinion, but the MRI taken yesterday confirmed what seemed obvious as he walked off the mound. It is devastating news for Hill, a Milton native who underwent shoulder surgery in 2009 and resurrected his career as a sidearm reliever.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Truth be told, he voted for himself. At home with his wife last week, he went online and clicked next to the name "Hideki Okajima. " Ten times in all. He'd accumulated more than 4.3 million votes when the final results were tabulated and neither Roy Halladay nor Jeremy Bonderman asked for a recount. No hanging chads in Florida. Hideki Okajima was on the American League All-Star team, the 32d and final player. The lone winner of the online vote. "I was getting a massage at Fenway Thursday afternoon and [pitching coach]

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek suffered a broken foot Wednesday night and is expected to miss six weeks. That led to the team acquiring Kevin Cash from the Houston Astros yesterday. Varitek left the game against Tampa Bay after eight innings, and a source with knowledge of the situation told the Globe last night that the Sox captain would become the latest player to go on the disabled list. Varitek was in the lineup because regular catcher Victor Martinez went on the DL Tuesday with a broken bone in his left thumb.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Japanese media is here in large numbers again, because Daisuke Matsuzaka continues to make great strides in his return from Tommy John Surgery. Matsuzaka had a very impressive bullpen session this morning, throwing hard and also throwing his secondary pitches. Interestingly, Matsuzaka was being watched by a few Red Sox personnel, but most notably Luis Tiant, who was offering suggestions to him in between innings. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Matsuzaka could be ready to pitch again in June.

The Yankees have signed former Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract. The lefty reliever, who turned 36 on Dec. 25, appeared in only seven games for the Red Sox last season, none after May 9. Okajima was outstanding for the Red Sox for two seasons after coming over from Japan. He had a 2.40 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 2007 and ‘08 and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His decline started in 2009 and never stopped. Okajima has a 3.90 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over the last three seasons.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff The Yankees have signed Hideki Okajima to a minor league contract. The lefty reliever, who turned 36 on Dec. 25, appeared in only seven games for the Red Sox last season, none after May 9. Okajima was outstanding for the Red Sox for two seasons after coming over from Japan. He had a 2.40 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 2006 and '07 and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His decline started in 2008 and never stopped. Okajima has a 3.90 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP over the last three seasons.

DALLAS - For a while, anyway, Bobby Valentine will be the story. He has energized the Red Sox fan base, which the organization expected. Valentine, looking and feeling a bit worn after making a quick visit to David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic, said he has reached out to all Sox players and offered to meet with both Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett, native Texans, while here for the winter meetings. Valentine said that trainer Mike Reinold is visiting with both players and will report back on their offseason workouts.

Daisuke Matsuzaka needs Tommy John surgery and may have thrown his last pitch for the Red Sox. The notebook has Rich Hill likely out for the year with an elbow injury and Hideki Okajima seeking a trade. The minor league notebook has Andrew Miller getting an early start in games. Michael Vega has the story.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Lefthanded reliever Rich Hill, who left yesterday's game clutching his arm, has a serious injury according to a major league source and is likely to require season-ending surgery. Hill and the Red Sox will seek a second opinion, but the MRI taken yesterday confirmed what seemed obvious as he walked off the mound. It is devastating news for Hill, a Milton native who underwent shoulder surgery in 2009 and resurrected his career as a sidearm reliever.

He endeared himself to New England last spring when he modestly let it be known he was willing to be a "hero in the dark. " But last night, in the brightest lights that baseball can offer, the shadows fell away forever for Hideki Okajima. The 31-year-old Japanese reliever spawned concerns last month that he might not make it to the finish line of a season as demanding as any he had pitched. Those fears proved unfounded last night in Game 2 of the 103d World Series, as Okajima retired all seven batters he faced, striking out four in Boston's 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.

A weekend of Fenway baseball merriment ended with Barry Bonds just where the Red Sox wanted him -- on deck. Was he itching, festering, and just plain begging to get another shot at Hideki Okajima? You'd sure like to think so. "We've had him since '93, and that was the first time I've ever seen him locked up like that," said Giants general manager Brian Sabean, referring to Saturday's game-deciding, five-pitch, five-takes, see-ya-later punchout with two on and none out in the eighth.

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff PAWTUCKET, R.I. — With the injury to Rich Hill on Wednesday afternoon leaving the Red Sox without a lefthanded reliever in the bullpen, Hideki Okajima said he harbored little, if any, hope of getting called up to fill that open spot. Speaking through an interpreter, the 35-year-old lefthanded reliever seemed emphatic in his reply when asked if he expected to be called up. "I'd rather not be called up in this situation," he said tonight. In fact, Okajima said he hoped to move on after being designated for assignment on May 20....

DETROIT — The Red Sox and Yankees can significantly reduce their risk in player acquisitions because they can throw money at front-line players. The Rays, though, had to commit to Matt Joyce and Casey Kotchman, two guys who wouldn’t see the light of day in the Boston lineup. But even teams with financial resources have to get lucky with a low-priced player or two because they simply can’t pay every player big money. The Sox decided to do this on a few fronts. They earmarked catcher, lefthanded reliever, and spot starter as low-priced players.