Tokyo Yakult Swallows infielder Akinori Iwamura flew out of Japan on Friday hoping to make further progress in his negotiations with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Iwamura left for the United States to meet his agent, Alan Nero, and also to pay a visit to St. Petersburg, home of the Devil Rays, who have won the rights to negotiate with the Japanese All-Star third baseman under the posting system.
"I am just hoping we make progress with the negotiations, even if it is just one or two steps. Hopefully I will be the bearer of good news when I come back," Iwamura told reporters at Narita airport.