Japanese pitcher Arihara signs with Texas for 2 years

The Texas Rangers have signed Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara to a $ 6 million, twoyear contract.

The righthander spent six years with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. The Rangers paid a $ 1.2 million posting fee for Arihara, who can earn $ 50,000 in performance bonuses yearly.

The 28yearold Arihara was 89 with a 3.46 ERA in 20 starts for Hokkaido during the pandemicshortened 2020 season. He led the Pacific League with three complete games and was second in innings with 1322⁄

“The addition of Kohei Arihara strengthens the depth in our starting rotation,” Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. “He has had success in Japan over the last six years with a breakout season in 2019.”

Arihara, the Pacific League’s rookie of the year in 2015, had a careerhigh 15 wins in 2019, tied for the overall lead in Japan, and was second in ERA at 2.46 in 24 starts. He is 6050 with a 3.74 ERA in 129 career appearances, including 125 starts.

Arihara would become the eighth native of Japan to appear in a regularseason game for the Rangers. Yu Darvish ( 201217) and Yoshinori Tateyama ( 201112) also pitched for Hokkaido before joining the Rangers.

“I will continue to work hard in order for me to grow and succeed in this city,” Arihara said in a statement released by the Rangers.

The Rangers made room on their 40man roster by designating righthander Art Warren for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco broke a bone in his right wrist playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The 29yearold Polanco is expected to be 100% by the start of spring training.

ELSEWHERE

Win lifts Everton into second place

Gylfi Sigurdsson produced a Merseyside top two in the English Premier League by scoring a late goal for visiting Everton in its 10 win over lastplace Sheffield United.

The Iceland midfielder beat goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a low shot from inside the area in the 80th minute following some good buildup play involving Abdoulaye

Doucoure and Bernard.

Everton jumped into second place above Leicester and Manchester United. Everton is two points behind rival Liverpool, which hosts West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Leicester came from behind twice to draw 22 against Manchester United, but dropped to third place in the EPL. Arsenal finally lifted the gloom surrounding the club and beat Chelsea 31 with a strong performance from younger players, with the Gunners winning their first EPL match in nearly two months. Former France coach Raymond Domenech is taking charge of Nantes, the struggling French club said.

NHL: The Blackhawks and freeagent center Carl Soderberg agreed to a $ 1 million, oneyear contract, bolstering the team’s forward depth after it lost Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander to injuries.

Hockey: Dylan Cozens had a hat trick and three assists and defending champion Canada opened the world junior championship with a 162 victory over shorthanded Germany in Edmonton, Alberta.