Yomiuri Giants left-hander Tetsuya Utsumi unexpectedly got a pay raise Friday after posting a losing record last season.
Utsumi, 27, re-signed with the Japan Series champions for a salary of ¥140 million, up ¥20 million from 2009.
"I thought my salary would drop or at most stay the same," he said. "I didn't get myself out of jams enough last season."
Utsumi failed to earn double-digit wins for the first time in four years with a 9-11 record, but Yomiuri decided that he deserves the pay raise since he led the team with 27 starts and five complete games.