Yasuhiro Ichiba of Meiji University, who accepted money from pro baseball clubs in violation of draft eligibility rules, has accepted an offer by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to acquire him in a pre-draft arrangement, Takahiro Beppu, former general manager of the university's baseball team, said Monday.
Ichiba has already delivered his intent to join Rakuten, becoming the first player the Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. will acquire for its Sendai-based baseball team to be launched next season.
He will submit documents Tuesday to the baseball commissioner's office to secure the arrangement.