Left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse will move from the Chiba Lotte Marines to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows as a free agent, he informed the Central League team by telephone on Sunday.
The 29-year-old, who will wear the same No. 17 he had as Lotte's ace, is a welcome addition to a team that had the worst ERA of the 12 top Japanese teams and finished last in the CL in 2014.
"I am relieved," said newly appointed manager Mitsuru Manaka. "The front office really worked to get him, so now we want him to produce results for us."
Naruse, who has a career 90-66 record with a 3.16 ERA, had a subpar performance this past season, going 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA in 23 starts. He has not reached double-digits in wins since 2012.
Along with Naruse, the Swallows have bolstered their roster with the addition of free agent shortstop Keiji Obiki, 30, from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
"In line with our goal of getting a pitcher and (bolstering) our centerline, some good players have joined us," said Masanori Matsui, team director of player acquisitions.