Following rumors from just yesterday, The New York Yankees have signed lefty Hideki Okajima to a minor league deal and he will get a spring training invite, according to David Waldstein via twitter (originally reported by Sports Hochi).

Okajima, 36, spent five seasons with the Red Sox and compiled a 17-8 record, 6 saves, and a 3.11 ERA as a reliever before eventually being designated for assignment in May. He was only able to see limited time in the majors during the 2011 season, pitching just 8 innings at a 4.32 ERA clip.

Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball points out the Yankees tendency to pursue Japanese relievers, and notes that Okajima's results lately have been less than ideal:

• Twitter / @DavidWaldstein: Yankees have agreed to min ...
  Yankees have agreed to minor league deal with former Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, will get spring invite. first report by Hochi Shinbun
• MLB Rumors: Aoki, Okajima, Pinto, Whitesell - MLB Daily Dish
  Sponichi is reporting that the New York Yankees are working on a minor league deal for Hideki Okajima, while the Softbank Hawks are trying to lure lefty Renyel Pinto to Japan, according to Newman.

• Twitter / @mashmore98: I guess the Yankees have s ...
  I guess the Yankees have some sort of contractual obligation to have a crappy Japanese pitcher in camp...
• Twitter / @mashmore98: Okajima really, really tai ...
  Okajima really, really tailed off after a solid first few years w Boston. WHIP over the last two years isn't pretty either.