Free agent catcher Motonobu Tanishige has opted to accept an offer from the Chunichi Dragons after his negotiations with major league clubs hit a snag, Chunichi officials said Monday.
Tanishige, who is in Hawaii, notified the Central League club of his decision by telephone earlier in the day and told the Yokohama BayStars that he would not sign with the team he played for the last 13 seasons.
Details of the deal between Tanishige and Chunichi were not immediately known.
Tanishige filed for free agency after the 2001 season with an eye to becoming the first Japanese catcher in the major leagues and demonstrated his catching and batting skills in Arizona on Dec. 5.
The Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres have reportedly shown some interest in the 31-year-old.
In an attempt to keep Tanishige, Yokohama offered him a multiyear deal two weeks ago in their second round of negotiations.
At the time, however, Tanishige did not make clear his intention about the offer and reiterated his hopes to play in the major leagues.
Tanishige had 20 homers and 70 RBIs -- both career highs -- with a .262 batting average in the 2001 season.