The Softbank Hawks have agreed on a two-year, 250 million yen contract with right-hander Rick Guttormson, who played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows the past two seasons, the Pacific League club said Thursday.
Softbank acquired the services of Guttormson after Yakult released the 29-year-old following failed talks over a new deal. Guttormson went 17-15 with a 3.33 ERA in his stint with Yakult.
He had a 9-10 record with a 2.85 ERA in 2006 and pitched a no-hitter against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on May 25, the first in interleague history. The Hawks also announced a one-year, 50 million yen deal with outfielder Brian James Buchanan, who hit .258 and 32 homers in 346 major league games between 2000 and 2004.