Yasuhiro Ichiba, who accepted money from pro baseball clubs in violation of draft eligibility rules, is set to join the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, baseball sources said Saturday.
Anaheim Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez gives a high five to Cleveland Indians catcher
Victor Martinez after the Major League team won Game 2 of the Japan-MLB exhibition series at
Tokyo Dome.
Takahiko Beppu, former general manager of the Meiji University baseball club and Ichiba's self-proclaimed career guidance counselor, confirmed that the 22-year-old right-hander had no objections to the Rakuten offer to acquire him in a pre-draft arrangement.