Japan's career leader in saves, Shingo Takatsu, has signed a one-year, $1 million deal to close for the White Sox, according to the Associated Press. Takatsu, whose contract is contingent on a physical and includes a club option for 2005, has 260 career saves and passed former Seattle closer Kazuhiro Sasaki last year for the top spot in league history. Nicknamed "Mr. Zero", Takatsu has not allowed an earned run in the Japan Series and has closed out four championships for his Yakult Swallows. According to baseball sources, the White Sox were the only team offering the closer's role to Takatsu, who was not going to leave Japan to fill a setup role in the States.

-So we couldn't offer him $1 mil per year, instead giving Looper $3 mil-plus?