The Yokohama BayStars on Thursday rewarded Takuro Ishii with an 80 million yen pay raise for next year after the infielder stole the most bases in the Central League for the third straight season.
Ishii, 30, who this year stole 35 bases and batted .302 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 134 games, negotiated the second year of a four-year contract, re-signing for an estimated 250 million yen.
"I really wanted to produce good results in the first year of my contract and I'm glad that I've been able to do that," Ishii said.
Swallows pitch deal
Yakult Swallows' third-year pitcher Ryota Igarashi on Thursday signed a new deal worth a reported 43 million yen for next season, 27 million yen more than his current salary, officials of the Central League club said.
Igarashi, 21, who owns a 150-kph fastball and made a team-high 56 appearances this season, will also switch jersey numbers from No. 53 to No. 11 in 2001, Swallows officials said.