The Yomiuri Giants have acquired infielder Makoto Kosaka from the Chiba Lotte Marines in a cash trade, the Central League club said Wednesday.
Kosaka, 32, will earn 110 million yen in annual salary next year under a one-year deal with Yomiuri after helping the Marines win their first Pacific League and Japan Series titles in 31 years.
Lotte's front-office officials decided to deal him at a time when the development of young talent in the infield like Toshiaki Imae and Tsuyoshi Nishioka has increasingly reduced the four-time Golden Glove winner's playing time.