Hisanori Takahashi

Takahashi, who the Mets signed last offseason to a one-year deal after 10 years in Japan, proved to be a godsend, filling the role of starter, middle reliever and closer at various points during the season. The deal he signed enabled him to become a free agent, and he was ineligible to return to the Mets until May 15. Thus, Takahashi signed a two-year, $8-million contract with the Angels. He is expected to pitch out of the bullpen, and given his splits between the first time through the lineup and thereafter, that seems to be the best place for him.

Takahashi filed for free agency and plans to leave Japan for MLB. He's not going to overpower anyone with an 86-90 mph fastball, but he mixes in a variety of breaking pitches, by far the best of which is a sinking screwball. Takahashi runs his screwball between about 75 and 80 mph, and consistently misses bats and induces groundballs with it. He throws a curveball and a slider, neither of which he commands as effectively as his screwball. Like almost every other starter to come out of NPB, innings will be a concern with Takahashi, should he land in a starting role. Takahashi has eclipsed 160 innings pitched just three times in his career, and not once since 2007, when he set a career high with 186. Although Takahashi has not historically been particularly tough on left-handed hitters, his screwball is enough of a plus pitch to give him a chance to be an elite MLB reliever, though he could become an effective one, should he not stick as a starter. He'll compete for the fifth starter's job after signing with the Mets and could be an option in long relief.