Softbank Hawks slugger Nobuhiko Matsunaka re-signed Tuesday on the second year of a seven-year contract that will pay him an unchanged 500 million yen salary, plus performance escalators in 2007.
The 33-year-old, who played outfield and acted as a designated hitter in 2006, is the highest paid Japanese player in professional baseball.
Matsunaka, whose multiyear deal is the longest ever by a Japanese pro baseball player, reconfirmed the details of his contract with the Fukuoka-based club.
In talks with Softbank officials, Matsunaka urged the team of the necessity to develop young talent and improve the clubhouse facilities at Yahoo Dome.