Free agent right-hander Daisuke Miura has opted to remain with the Yokohama BayStars and turned down an offer from the Hanshin Tigers, sources at the Central League clubs said Saturday.
Miura has accepted a four-year, 1 billion yen offer from the BayStars, for whom the 34-year-old played the last 17 years, and told both clubs of his decision. Hanshin had offered him a three-year, 900 million yen deal.
Senior Hanshin official Shoji Numazawa admitted to a failure to acquire the services of Miura.
"He said 'sorry' for turning down our offer, which he described as grateful. It's disappointing but I think we did everything we needed to in our bid for him," Numazawa said.
Miura filed for free agency earlier in the off-season after compiling a 124-122 career record with a 3.51 earned run average. He led the league with 177 strikeouts and a 2.52 ERA in 2005 and went 7-10 with a 3.56 ERA in 2008.