The Tokyo Yakult Swallows announced Wednesday that they have signed 32-year-old pitcher Chris Narveson.
The 191-cm southpaw has a career major league record of 26-18 with a 4.65 ERA over six seasons, mostly with the National League's Milwaukee Brewers. He was a fixture in the Brewers' starting rotation in 2010 and 2011. His contract will be for one year and believed to be for $850,000 with additional performance-related incentives.
Narveson had surgery in 2012 for a torn rotator cuff, injured a finger early in 2013 and was dropped from the 40-man roster after pitching in just two big league games this past season. He went 4-7 for Triple-A Nashville this year with a 5.14 ERA, and went 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA in five starts this winter for Licey of the Dominican winter league.
With Milwaukee, Narveson was a teammate of former Swallows star Norichika Aoki, who was traded this winter to the Kansas City Royals.
Also Wednesday, the Yokohama BayStars signed left-hander Hisanori Takahashi, who has been playing in the United States since 2010.
The 38-year-old, who appeared in three games this year for the National League's Chicago Cubs, has a 14-12 won-lost record with 10 saves with four big league clubs.
"Now as a member of the BayStars, I am thinking of nothing but contributing to the team," said Takahashi in a statement released by the club.
Takahashi, the top draft pick of the Yomiuri Giants in 1999, had a career record of 79-66 before leaving as a free agent after the 2009 season.