Hisashi Iwakuma is returning to the Seattle Mariners.
After news broke early Thursday morning that Iwakuma’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-year, $45 million contract had fallen through because of issues with his physical, the Mariners were able to re-enter the competition for the veteran right-hander. Later that evening, general manager Jerry Dipoto finalized a deal to bring him back.
The team announced that Iwakuma had agreed to a one-year contract for the 2016 season with vesting options for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
It was a stunning turn of events for the Mariners, who had thought their previous contract offer of 2 years, $30 million wasn’t enough when the Dodgers swooped in days before the Major League baseball winter meetings.