Looks like Brad Penny is going to have some company over in Bean Town.

The Red Sox are further compensating for their lack of ability to “close” Mark Teixeira by signing releiver Takashi Saito to a one year deal reportedly guaranteed for at least $1.5 million with incentives that could make it worth more than $7 million (the club also supposedly has an option for 2010). That’s a lot of money for a guy with elbow problems that kept him out down the stretch and made him a non-factor in the NLCS.

Said Saito “I’m very excited; obviously there is excitement playing for a new team…I know that obviously Daisuke and Okajima are there right now and I’ve met them several times in the past. I also understand that there is a lot of Japanese staff working with the team. Atmosphere-wise, it’s going to be a very nice fit for myself. I’m just very, very excited to be a Red Sox right now.”

Could he be most excited about some fairly serious money that the Dodgers were not going anywhere near offering? We think so.

Sayonara Saito – enjoy your 39th birthday in Boston.