Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. _ A very jovial and healthy looking Takashi Saito gladly met with the Boston media Tuesday morning at the Red Sox Player Development Complex.

The right-handed Japanese reliever was dressed in a bright red and white Mizuno sweat suit and deemed himself healthy.

There was some question when the Red Sox signed him this offseason to an incentive-laden contract whether or not his injured elbow, which limited him to only 47 innings for the Dodgers last season, would be ready for Opening Day.

According to Saito, he's ready to go despite his decision not to have surgery on his ailing elbow.

"The reason I didn't elect for surgery, even though that was certainly an option, was because the rehab alone would take about a year, and at my age, I didn't feel like that was an option I wanted to take," he said through interpreter Masa Hoshino.

Saito, who turns 39 on Saturday, admitted on Tuesday he's healthy.

"Physically I feel great," he said. "I'm throwing and running and feel like I'm in a really good spot. I'm ready to start whenever."

If healthy, his role will likely be a late-inning setup guy for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

"At this point I haven't really thought about my role," Saito said. "I just want to work hard and perform well during spring training and show the team what I'm capable of. . . I'm extremely excited to be here. I feel like I've finally arrived here and right now I'm just looking forward to everything."

Unlike fellow Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, Saito decided to decline an invitation to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic for his native country. Even though this tournament is a big honor for Japanese players, Saito felt his health was more important to the Red Sox at this point.

"I think the final decision was mine, although the Red Sox probably would have preferred that I didn't play," he said. "In Japan, the WBC has become a very important thing, especially since we won the first tournament. So with that in mind, it took me a long time to come to that decision and I thought about it really hard, but ultimately, I made the decision."

He also spent time on Tuesday morning having some fun at Brad Penny's expense. The two were teammates for the Dodgers before both signed with the Sox. Saito said the two are close and have a lot of fun together.

 Tags  Red Sox spring training Takashi Saito

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