Chunichi Dragons infielder Masahiro Araki said Wednesday he has received an offer to join the Japan squad for the World Baseball Classic in March to fill the void left by Tadahito Iguchi, who withdrew last weekend.
"It's difficult for me to make a quick decision and I'll give an answer in the next few days," said Araki, who hit .291 with a team-high 181 hits and 42 stolen bases, second in the Central League, in the 2005 season.
Araki won his second straight Golden Glove for his solid fielding at second base but said his offseason training schedule has been affected by an injury to his head after he was hit by a pitch during a fall training camp.
"It struck my head so it's still worrisome...and I think I should have begun preparations earlier for the tournament," he said.
Second baseman Iguchi, who helped the Chicago White Sox win the World Series in his rookie season in the major leagues, was named to the original 29-man roster for Japan but pulled out last Saturday citing his position with the American League club.
New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui has also opted not to play for Sadaharu Oh's Japan team in order to focus on his spring training with the Yankees and the goal of helping them win the World Series.
Two major league players -- Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka -- are on the Japan roster for the inaugural World Baseball Classic, which will be held in the middle of spring training.