Left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara is a simple fit for the Washington Nationals. He is inexpensive, having agreed Friday to a two-year, $3.5 million contract. He fills a need, adding to the depth of their starting rotation.

For the first time in club history, the Nationals have signed a player directly from Asia, announcing today a two-year deal with Japanese left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara.Ogasawara was an All-Star for the Chunichi Dragons in 2023 and posted a 3.

For the first time since becoming the Washington Nationals in 2005, the team has signed an international player directly from an Asian country. Early Friday afternoon, they agreed to terms with Shinnosuke Ogasawara of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.