Chunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome and Hiroshima Carp third baseman Takahiro Arai are among the 68 players eligible to become free agents this year, the baseball commissioner's office said Monday. Fukudome is 29 days short of the service time needed for free agency in Japanese baseball, but the 2006 Central League MVP gained eligibility under a new rule aimed at bailing out injured players. Fukudome had endoscopic surgery in Los Angeles in August to remove bone fragments from his right elbow. Because of that, the number of days he was on the active roster was reduced to 116 days in his ninth season. Fukudome, Arai and 15 other players met the free agency requirements for the first time, including Chunichi closer Hitoki Iwase, Seibu Lions outfielder Kazuhiro Wada and Chiba Lotte Marines closer Masahide Kobayashi. Hanshin Tigers veteran lefty Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi, Yokohama BayStars right-hander Daisuke Miura and two others have regained eligibility. The 47 other players continue to hold the rights for free agency, including Hiroshima right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who said last week he will declare his right to become a free agent with an eye on moving to the major leagues. Those who file for free agency during seven business days after the end of the Japan Series beginning Saturday will be allowed to negotiate a deal with any teams, either in Japan or abroad, after their names are posted by the commissioner's office as free agents.
