Former Kintetsu Buffaloes president Keisuke Ashitaka said Tuesday the procedures to make seven-time All-Star infielder Norihiro Nakamura available to major league clubs through the posting system has been completed.
Should he strike a deal, the 31-year-old Nakamura will become the fourth Japanese player to join a major league team through the bidding system, after Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners), Kazuhisa Ishii (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Akinori Otsuka (San Diego Padres).
The system is one in which major league teams present sealed bids to win negotiating rights with Japanese players. If he receives an offer, Nakamura will begin talks with a club through his agent Dan Nomura.
After the player's name and status is revealed to all American and National league teams through the Major League Baseball commissioner's office, teams have four days to post their bids and the highest bidder is given 30 days to negotiate a contract.