Red Sox make offer to Japanese pitcher

Nov 24, 2008 - 4:50 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox may be reaching into the Far East once again for pitching talent.

According to a report on mlb.com, the Red Sox, who imported Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima from Japan prior to the 2007 season, have offered a contract to righthander Junichi Tazawa.

Mlb.com, citing Japanese newspaper Sankei Sports, reported the offer to be $6 million.

The 22-year-old Tazawa met with Boston vice president of international scouting Craig Shipley for nearly two hours, according to the report.

Tazawa, who opted to skip the Japanese draft in favor of signing with a major league team, has drawn interest from a number of teams.