Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige took a pay cut of ¥40 million after re-signing with the Central League club on Saturday.
In his first year in dual roles, Tanishige's Dragons finished in the bottom half of the standings.
The 43-year-old skipper, who was limited to just 91 games and batted .195 in his 19th professional season, will make ¥90 million as a player in 2015.
"In pro baseball you have to produce results. I didn't do that," said Tanishige, whose team finished in fourth place. "It is bad to make excuses, but (weakening) comes with age," he said.