Free agent infielder Michihiro Ogasawara said Wednesday he will join the Yomiuri Giants on a four-year contract for an identical salary of 380 million yen he received this year from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
Ogasawara reached a basic agreement with Yomiuri in his second meeting with the Central League club, which will hold further talks with the 33-year-old to hammer out details of performance-related incentives.
"I am happy that the club offered me a four-year deal right of the bat (in the first round of talks)," said Ogasawara. "I was pretty much decided (to join Yomiuri) at that point. I will be grateful to Yomiuri."
The Fighters had offered Ogasawara a multiyear deal with a reportedly substantial increase in his annual salary, but Ogasawara said he opted for a new challenge with the team that needs him most.
"I wanted to make a challenge with Yomiuri and respond to Yomiuri's request since they show that they need me," said Ogasawara.
Ogasawara held first-round talks with Yomiuri on Nov. 14, a day after starting negotiations with the Fighters, the newly crowned Japan Series champions for whom he played over the past 10 seasons in the Pacific League.