MLB rumors: Angels the frontrunner for Kyuji Fujikawa

The Los Angeles Angels are weighing any and all options they have to acquire pitching this offseason. The team acquired Tommy Hanson from the Braves on Friday to bolster their rotation, and according to a tweet from Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown, the club is seen as the frontrunner to land Japanese pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa.

Fujikawa, 32, has spent his entire career pitching in Japan. He burst onto the global scene in 2006 at the World Baseball Classic, and then again in 2009. Fujikawa also pitched in the 2008 Olympics, displaying a fastball that some have described as elite over the years. He would likely be a late-inning reliever in Anaheim, which makes sense given the team's struggles last season.

It appears a deal could be coming soon for Fujikawa, although it's unclear which other teams have interest in him. A two- or three-year deal is likely, and an annual salary in the range of $5 million seems appropriate.

If Fujikawa does not sign over the weekend, expect to hear his name brought up next week as the Winter Meetings begin in Nashville.