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The Tampa Bay Rays said Thursday they have signed Japanese pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The announcement came on the last day of the 45-day negotiation period for the 29-year-old right-hander, who was posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters. Uwasawa threw a Pacific League-leading 170 innings and had a 9-9 record with a 2.96 ERA in 24 games last year. Over nine seasons, all with the Fighters, he was 70-62 with a 3.19 ERA in 173 games. Two other Japanese pitchers also used the posting system this offseason. Yoshinobu Yamamoto si…

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