The Hanshin Tigers have purchased the contract of pitcher Chris Resop from the Atlanta Braves. The 6′3 righty is being viewed as a potential closer or setup man by the club.

Resop has spent the last three years bouncing back and forth between AAA and the major leagues, compiling a lifetime 3-3 record with a 5.61 E.R.A. Resop has high K totals in the minors–he’s averaged just over 1 K per 9 innings during his career–but has been the victim of the longball and spotty control during his stints with the Marlins, Angels, and Braves.

In an interview with Naples News, Resop spoke with excitment about his new digs in Osaka:

“It’s traveling the world, and the baseball over there, I heard it’s awesome…You’re still getting paid for what you love to do. Not that I’m at a standstill here, but I’m not on the (40-man) roster and it’s gonna be more of a challenge to get back to the big leagues. If a team’s gonna pay me to play this game, how can I say no to that?”

Resop did mention, however, that he sees the move to Hanshin as a career detour and hopes eventually to return to the big leagues.

“It’s not a bad thing, not something that’s getting in the way of me getting back to the bigs,” said Resop, who is 3-3 with a 5.61 ERA in 61 innings for the Marlins, Angels and Braves since 2005. “That was my dream, and I’ve accomplished that. I’d like to do that for a long time, but this isn’t a situation taking away from that. I’m 25, so I can go over there, make some money and be financially set, then I can still come back and pitch in the bigs.”

[Editorial response to Resop from Jackson--after living in Japan, you might not want to come back. Forewarned is forearmed.]

Thanks to the always invaluable Japanese Baseball for the tip from its discussion board.