The Red Sox may be finding out shortly about the possible addition to their starting rotation.
According to multiple reports out of Japan, starter Kohei Arihara is set to decide between the Red Sox, Padres and and Rangers. The deadline for the posting window for the 28-year-old expires Dec. 26.
Arihara has a career 3.74 ERA for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, winning Pacific League Rookie of the Year 2015. His best season came in 2019 when the righty totaled a 2.46 ERA in 164 1/3 innings.
Arihara is viewed by many as a middle of the rotation option, which would fall in line with the type of pitcher the Red Sox are pursuing. Chaim Bloom and Co. are also interested in Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, whose posting deadline runs out on Jan. 7.
Whichever teams signs Arihara will owe the Ham Fighters 20 percent of the first $25 million of the contract signed and $17.5 percent of the following $25 million. The number drops to 15 percent after passing $50 million.