Tokyo Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki, who won Central League titles for most hits and stolen bases in 2006, re-signed on Wednesday for an estimated annual salary of 140 million yen plus performance escalators -- up 72 million yen from last season.
Aoki surpassed Yakult manager Atsuya Furuta's salary of 120 million yen as a fourth season player. "Honestly, I think it's too good to be true.
But I've been training, and it's my goal to improve my numbers from last season," said a smiling Aoki, whose new salary is the highest ever paid to a player in his fourth year with the team. In his last round of talks, Aoki told the club he would be interested in using the so-called posting system in the future to make a move to the major leagues, but the subject was not mentioned during negotiations this time.