Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Tampa Bay Rays have signed Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to a two-year deal worth around $12 million. They Rays will also will have to pay a 20 percent posting fee to his old team, the Yokohama DeNa BayStars.
Tsutsugo, 28, has averaged 33 homers and 93 RBIs over the last five seasons in the Central League of NPB. He’s an on-base machine, with a career line of .284/.382/.525. In 2019 he hit .272/.388/.511. His best season came in 2016 when he hit .322/.430/.680 with 44 homers and 110 RBI in 133 games.
Tsutsugo will likely move around from left field to DH for the Rays.
