The Central League's Yokohama BayStars revealed their biggest victory of the offseason on Monday with the signing of a two-year deal for the services of slugging Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel.
The 30-year-old Gurriel posted a .305 batting average this year with 11 home runs and 46 runs in just 62 games after joining Yokohama's roster on June 2. Gurriel played in 35 games at second base and 29 at third for the BayStars, who finished fifth in the league.
"We are moving in a positive direction," BayStars general manager Shigeru Takada said. "He said he wanted to come here (next year) so this is huge."