The Yakult Swallows said Monday they have acquired former major league infielder Wilson Valdez.
Yakult expects the 30-year-old Dominican to fill in at shortstop while Shinya Miyamoto leaves the team to play for Japan during the Beijing Olympics in August.
Valdez's contract, worth ¥20 million plus incentives, runs through the end of this season.
Valdez has batted .218 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 47 games with the Kia Tigers in South Korea this year after playing in a total of 111 games in three major league seasons — 42 games for the 2005 Seattle Mariners and 41 games for the 2007 Los Angeles Dodgers.