Orix BlueWave pitcher Masao Kida indicated Thursday that he hopes to play in the major leagues again after he and the Pacific League club agreed the day before that neither side wanted to conclude a contract for next season.
Kida, who played with the Detroit Tigers in 1999 and part of last season before rejoining Orix, will begin negotiating with major-league teams after the BlueWave front office releases its list of protected players on Dec. 2.
"Even if I can't get a contract, I hope that I can get invited to spring training somewhere," the 33-year-old right-hander said. "Even if I start with a minor-league contract, I believe that I have a good chance to get promoted to the majors."
Kida signed with Detroit after becoming a free agent in 1998.
Hawks get Red Sox
FUKUOKA (Kyodo) The Daiei Hawks have acquired two Boston Red Sox players on one-year contracts, officials of the Pacific League club said Friday.
Infielder Morgan Burkhart, 29, and right-handed pitcher Carlos Castillo, 26, each agreed to a deal worth $350,000 for next season, including a signing bonus.