Closer Marc Kroon, who left the Yokohama BayStars last month after negotiations on a new deal collapsed, has joined the Yomiuri Giants, the Central League club said Wednesday.
Marc Kroon
Kroon has signed a one-year deal thought to be worth ¥350 million, which includes a signing fee, with both sides having the option of a second year.
The one-year rolling contract could be extended to a final third year depending on the injury-prone fastballer's results.
The 34-year-old Kroon earned a career-high 31 saves this past season. He is 8-8 with 84 saves and a 2.82 ERA in 145 games in his three-year stint with Yokohama.
Koji Uehara posted a new club record of 32 saves for Yomiuri this season and helped the Giants win their first CL pennant in five years.
But the Giants have been targeting Kroon as Uehara is expected to return to the starter's role next season.
"We plan to have Uehara back as a starter and we have reached one of our targets of strengthening in relief," said Yomiuri team official Hidetoshi Kiyotake.
Meanwhile, Yokohama announced the acquisitions of two new foreign players, right-hander Mike Wood and infielder J.J. Furmaniak.
Wood, 27, posted three wins for the Texas Rangers this season and has a career 16-22 mark in the major leagues.
Furmaniak, 28, played 16 games this term with the Oakland Athletics. He batted .292 and had 15 home runs in 106 games with the team's Triple-A affiliate.