Right-hander Fumiya Nishiguchi netted a 100 million yen pay raise and re-signed Monday with the Seibu Lions on a one-year contract worth an estimated 300 million yen, the highest amount ever for a Pacific League pitcher.
The amount exceeds fellow right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka's 250 million yen package for this year.
Matsuzaka, 25, has not yet held contract talks with the Lions this offseason.
The 33-year-old Nishiguchi posted a career-high 17 wins against five losses with a 2.77 ERA in 25 games in his 11th season.
Nishiguchi came close to pitching a no-hitter and a perfect game during the season.
In the Central League, former Yokohama BayStars pitcher Hirokazu Sasaki earned 650 million yen last year.
Meanwhile, in Kobe, Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yoshitomo Tani re-signed with the Pacific League club to a one-year contract worth 280 million yen in annual salary plus performance-based incentives.
His base salary will be down 10 million yen from this year after he hit just .248 with six homers and 36 RBIs in 111 games in a season plagued with a rib injury he suffered on the eve of the regular-season opener in March.
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