Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Okada said Monday that left-hander Kei Igawa, who had reached a deadlock over a new contract after insisting he be allowed to move to the major leagues, will play for the Central League club this season.
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"He told me from his own mouth that he will play with Hanshin this year," Okada said after a 20-minute meeting with his ace pitcher a day before the team's training camp begins in Okinawa.
"I told him to be realistic and get down to work from tomorrow. That's the end of this issue," Okada said.