Yokohama BayStars third baseman Shuichi Murata signed a new single-year deal with the club Monday on an unchanged salary of ¥260 million plus performance-related incentives.
Murata suffered a right hamstring injury at the World Baseball Classic in March and spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering the same injury to his left leg in August.
The 28-year-old led the Central League in home runs in 2007 and 2008 but missed out on a third consecutive CL title after hitting 25 homers this past season.
"I thought I might take a pay cut but the club has taken many things into consideration for me and I could seal the deal," said Murata.
If all goes to plan, Murata will get free agency next season. "First of all, I'm going to try hard next year, take free agency and have a think about things," he said.
Murata went .274 with 69 RBIs in 93 games in 2009.