The Hiroshima Carp said Friday they have acquired the services of pitcher John Bale, who played for the Central League club for three years from 2004.
The 35-year-old left-hander has agreed to a one-year deal carrying a ¥10 million salary plus performance-based incentives. Over three seasons with Hiroshima, he went 14-13 with 30 saves.
Last year, Bale was 0-1 with one save and a 5.72 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals.
Yamamura update
OSAKA (Kyodo) Negotiations have broken down with the Philadelphia Phillies for the signing of Osaka University of Commerce catcher Hiroya Yamamura, the university said on Friday.
Yamamura's agent had traveled to the United States in order to hammer out a deal that would have allowed the 22-year-old to take part in the team's spring training camp but an agreement was never reached.
Yamamura was scheduled to speak at a news conference to announce his signing with the Phillies on Feb. 10 before the team made a request the same day to call it off.
"He is the one who has been dealt the biggest shock by this. He will need time to come to terms with what has happened," said Osaka University of Commerce manager Takuji Yamanishi.
Yamamura's father, Tatsuya, was a pitcher of the Kintetsu Buffaloes.