Free-agent slugger Norihiro Nakamura said Thursday he will drop one of the two Japanese clubs he is in talks with for a possible deal by next Tuesday, when he is scheduled to hold the next round of negotiations with the Hanshin Tigers.
Norihiro Nakamura arrives at Narita Airport on Thursday after returning from a trip to the United States with his family and agent."I think it's better now to narrow down the list to just one team in Japan and then see if I get an offer from the major leagues. I'll decide on it within the next five days," Nakamura said upon returning from a trip to the United States with his family and agent.
"Fortunately I got an opportunity to talk to the Mets' general manager and I've heard a handful of major league clubs are interested in me. I'll be waiting for their moves," Nakamura added.
29-year-old third baseman said he told Hanshin manager Senichi Hoshino of his plan to choose the Central League club or the Kintetsu Buffaloes, whom he played for the last 11 years, by Tuesday's talks by telephone from the United States.
Kintetsu and Hanshin have offered Nakamura a six-year deal worth more than 3 billion yen but his aspirations of playing in the major leagues have left his talks with the clubs inconclusive.