Baltimore Orioles

Orioles sign former Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima to minors deal

Published Feb. 4, 2016 12:10 a.m. ET

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Hideki Okajima last made an appearance in the Majors with the Oakland A's in 2013, but is trying to make his way back.

According to Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Orioles have signed the 40-year-old lefty to a minor league deal without a spring training invite.

The Orioles seem to be stock-piling lefty relievers -- Okajima would join Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, T.J. McFarland and C.J. Riefenhauser.

Should he make his way up to the big leagues, Okajima will be in a familiar division. Prior to his four inning stint in Oakland, Okajima pitched for the Red Sox from 2007 to 2011.

With the Sox, he was a solid bullpen piece, especially as a rookie in 2007 when he owned a 2.22 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 69 innings.

Across his six-year career, Okajima holds a 3.09 ERA in 250 1/3 innings pitched.