Before Kimiyasu Kudo was reduced to mop-up duty on the worst team in Japanese pro baseball, he was one of the aces on a dynasty.

The glory appear to be gone for good, however, after the Yokohama BayStars announced on Tuesday their intentions to part ways with the left-hander at season's end.

Although age has robbed him of much of his effectiveness, the 47-year-old Kudo told Japanese media that he wants to continue pitching.