Former New York Yankee Hideki Irabu is close to signing a deal that would see the pitcher return to his homeland to play in an independent league.
The 40-year-old Irabu is in negotiations with the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku-Kyushu Island League, team officials said Wednesday.
"We're negotiating with his agent and hopefully he will be pitching for us before the end of the month," said Junichi Fujikawa, the team's general manager.