Rays sign Japanese slugger Tsutsugo
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a deal with Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who hit 139 home runs in his last four seasons with the Yokohama Bay Stars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times has the details:
Tsutsugo is 28 and has played left field, first base and third base throughout his career, but most recently has played a lot of outfield. He could move around for the Rays, and also spend time at DH. His best season in Japan came in 2016 when he hit 44 homers with 110 RBIs and had a .322 batting average. At just $12 million over two years, he could be a bargain for the Rays if his bat catches up to major-league pitching.