Okajima bolsters bullpen

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took a step toward bolstering his bullpen yesterday, introducing a veteran lefthanded reliever from Japan, Hideki Okajima, at Fenway Park.

"You can call me 'Okaji,' " Okajima said at the press conference called to introduce the 30-year-old pitcher to a city with which he is barely acquainted.

Last season, Okajima served as setup man for the Nippon Ham Fighters, posting a 2-2 record with a career-best 2.14 ERA in 55 appearances for the Japan Series champions, who were managed by a Westerner, Trey Hillman.

In his previous 11 seasons, Okajima pitched for the Yomiuri Giants, a team that inspired him to go by "Okaji" because of the longtime presence of home run king Hideki Matsui, now a New York Yankee.

Okajima, who was an unrestricted free agent, came at a considerably lower price than what Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka may cost: The Sox signed him to a two-year deal that will pay him $1.25 million in each of the next two seasons, with the club holding a $1.75 million option for 2009. Okajima's package is considerably more modest than that commanded by other middle relievers this winter: Justin Speier received a four-year, $18 million deal from the Angels, and lefty Jamie Walker was given a three-year, $12 million deal by the Orioles.

Okajima said he has met Matsuzaka, but that's about as far as their relationship goes. Epstein, who relied on the judgment of international scouting director Craig Shipley and Pacific Rim scout Jon Deeble to go after Okajima, said his best pitch is an overhand curveball.