Kenji Jojima, who hit cleanup for Japan's bronze medal team at the Athens Olympics, signed a new single-year contract worth 500 million yen with the Softbank Hawks on Tuesday, becoming the fourth-highest-paid player ever in Japanese baseball.
Jojima, who can also earn more through performance-related incentives, was offered a three-year deal by the Fukuoka-based Pacific League team but turned it down as he is expected to declare free agency after his 11th career season next fall.
Yokohama BayStars pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki (650 million yen -- 2004), former Yomiuri Giants outfielder Hideki Matsui (610 million yen -- 2002), former Orix BlueWave outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (530 million yen -- 2000) and former Kintetsu Buffaloes infielder Norihiro Nakamura (500 million yen -- 2004) head the all-time salary list in Japanese pro baseball history.
Despite having to leave the Hawks for a month during the Olympics, Jojima hit .338 with a career-high 36 homers, 144 hits and 91 RBIs in 116 games.