Japanese infielder Tadahito Iguchi, who had reached an impasse earlier this month with the Chicago White Sox, will join the American League team after all, sources close to him said Monday.
Tadahito Iguchi
Iguchi will leave this month for Chicago and formally sign with the White Sox after undergoing a physical.
According to a source close to him, Iguchi will get $2.3 million (about 237 million yen) a year plus performance incentives in a two-year contract.
Iguchi, 30, will become the second Japanese infielder to play in the majors following Kazuo Matsui (New York Mets) once the formal decision is made.
The White Sox were reportedly one of five MLB clubs interested in acquiring Iguchi, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Iguchi's contract will be for slightly less than the 240 million yen he received from the Daiei Hawks in 2004.
Last season, Iguchi batted .333 with 24 homers and 89 RBIs. He won the Pacific League stolen base title in 2001 and 2003, the Golden Glove award three times and is also a four-time All-Star.
Japanese pitcher Shingo Takatsu is also a member of the White Sox.
Elsewhere, Yakult Swallows lefty Masanori Ishikawa might miss this year's season opener as he is recovering from a stress fracture in his left leg, the Central League club said Monday.
Ishikawa, who will enter his fourth year this season, hurt his shin at a fall training camp last November. Ishikawa has posted double-digit victories three straight years since his rookie season.