Former Chicago White Sox and New York Mets closer Shingo Takatsu on Tuesday concluded negotiations with the Yakult Swallows and signed a one-year contract with his old club.
The 37-old right-hander, who became a free agent in the off season and had been training with the Central League club at its spring camp, put pen to paper on a deal carrying an annual salary of 30 million plus performance-related bonuses.
"I'm glad that I will be able to play baseball again this year and I will do my utmost to help the team win the championship," said Takatsu.
Takatsu joined Yakult in 1991. He became a closer in 1993 and went on to eclipse Kazuhiro Sasaki's record of 229, becoming the Japanese career saves leader with 260 saves in 525 games.
He moved to the major leagues and joined the Chicago White Sox in 2004, where he posted 19 saves in his first season.
But his form dipped and he lost the closer's role in mid-May last year and was released by the White Sox in August just a week after he had signed a new minor league contract with the American League club.
Takatsu joined the Mets on a minor league contract before filing for free agency last November.