Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

When Horace Greeley implored young Americans to head west in search of riches (John B.L. Soule actually originated the saying. Greeley popularized it), I doubt he meant go so far west they’d actually end up in the east…the Far East. But that’s exactly where major league baseball executives are traveling these days in search of hardball’s most coveted commodity…pitching.

The Red Sox have signed Hideki Okajima, a left handed relief specialist from Japan to a contract. The move comes as the Yankees are about to ink lefty starter, Kei Igawa, and the Sox work to finalize a deal with another Japanese import, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Boston’s latest transaction fills a void left open since Mike Myers took his Halloween mask to New York.

Okajima posted a 2.14 ERA last season with the Nippon Ham Fighters (love the team name) after spending the prior 11-seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He reportedly has a high quality curveball that makes him tough on southpaw sticks. Ironically, he was a teammate of Hideki Matsui in Japan. If all goes as planned, Okajima will be called on to face Matsui several times over the next few years.

(While I have your attention here, please tell me you’re more intelligent than to believe this Jake Peavy-Manny Ramirez garbage being thrown around in a few media circles. 25-year old top of the rotation starters don’t get traded for 34-year old, cranky legged outfielders owed $34-million over the next two years.)

Now then, what do you think of the latest signing? Personally, I like it. It’s a better gamble than some of the retread middle relief alternatives available stateside. But do you think the Sox are spending too much money and effort on guys who’ve never tossed an inning in the major leagues?