Free-agent infielder Kensuke Tanaka and the World Series champion San Francisco Giants have agreed on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training, Kyodo News learned Thursday.
The 31-year-old Tanaka, a five-time Golden Glove-winning second baseman, is a career .286 hitter in 13 years with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. Last season, he was limited to just 114 games after breaking his left elbow in August but still batted .300 with three homers and 137 hits.
Tanaka turned pro out of Higashi Fukuoka High School in 2000 as the Fighters' No. 2 draft pick, helping the team to four pennants and one Japan Series title. He was also named to the Best Nine five times.