The Japanese pro baseball executive committee decided Monday to accept the proposed merger between the Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave after the two clubs reached a basic agreement on the deal early last week.
![News photo](/images/photos2004/sb20040622a1a.jpg)
An executive committee of Pacific and Central league teams gave the proposed deal the green light after the parties involved explained the details of a merger that would reduce the number of teams in the Pacific League to five.