The Los Angeles Dodgers have submitted a bid for the right to negotiate a contract with Japanese infielder Norihiro Nakamura through the posting system before the Friday deadline, baseball officials said.

Major League Baseball said that teams took part in the system, whereby major league teams presented sealed bids through the baseball commissioner's office for a chance to talk with Japanese players, but did not reveal the names or number of teams involved.

An unnamed Dodgers official said the National League club made the bid. "We will do everything in our hands to acquire Nakamura if we win the right" to exclusive negotiation, the official said.

MLB will notify the Orix Buffaloes, created through the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Kintetsu Buffaloes this offseason, of the bidding amount.

If the Pacific League team accepts the offer, the highest bidder will be given 30 days to negotiate a deal with the player.

Fukuura re-signs

CHIBA (Kyodo) Lotte Marines infielder Kazuya Fukuura re-signed with the team on Saturday in a three-year deal worth 180 million yen in annual salary.

Fukuura, who has hit over .300 for the last four seasons, will get a 25 million yen salary boost in addition to performance-related incentives.