Orix Buffaloes general manager Katsuhiro Nakamura wants to meet with the commissioner of Japanese baseball next week to discuss interest expressed in star pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma by the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, local media reported Sunday.
As the Buffaloes attempt to convince Iwakuma to remain with the team next season, Rakuten owner Hiroshi Mikitani and manager Yasushi Tao have reportedly said they would like the 15-game winner to join the Eagles, a move Nakamura says could violate baseball rules, the Nikkan Sports newspaper reported.
Iwakuma posted the most wins in the Pacific League last season for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. When the team merged with the Orix BlueWave, the All-Star pitcher said he had no desire to play for the Orix Buffaloes, despite being protected by the team ahead of the dispersal draft.