The Chunichi Dragons signed infielder Kazuyoshi Tatsunami to a one-year contract Sunday for an annual salary of 225 million yen and performance incentives.
The new deal represents a 25 million yen decrease from 2005, the final year of the four-year contract for the 36-year-old veteran who hit .253, his worst average in 17 years, with nine homers and 56 RBIs.
"People tend to think players at my age will likely retire soon if they fail to play well in any given season. If I lose a regular place in the lineup, I think that's when I'll call it quits," Tatsunami said.
He said he received a special bonus from Chunichi for setting a Japanese baseball record in career doubles and a club record in career hits during the 2005 season.