Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Okada said Monday that left-hander Kei Igawa, who had reached a deadlock over a new contract after insisting he be allowed to move to the major leagues, will play for the Central League club this season.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters arrives at Naha Airport in Okinawa on Monday, a day ahead of the opening of his team's spring training camp.
"He told me from his own mouth that he will play with Hanshin this year," Okada said after a 20-minute meeting with his ace pitcher a day before the team's training camp begins in Okinawa.
"I told him to be realistic and get down to work from tomorrow. That's the end of this issue," Okada said.