Arizona Diamondbacks sell Brad Bergesen's contract to Japan

The Arizona Diamondbacks have sold right-hander Brad Bergesen to the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League, according to an announcement from the team's Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.

The 27-year-old Bergesen appeared in 19 games for Arizona in 2012 and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.64 ERA. He was claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on July 20. Prior to his arrival in Arizona, he pitched in 22 games (10 starts) for the Orioles Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides and posted a 4-3 record with a 4.03 ERA and 41 strike outs. He also appeared in one game for the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate Reno Aces. The right-hander would have been arbitration eligible this offseason, but his projected salary of $1 million made him an attractive non-tender candidate for the Diamondbacks.

Bergesen was a fourth-round selection in the 2004 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Foothill High School in Santa Ana, Calif.