Hokkaido Nippon Ham's Hichori Morimoto has put the Fighters on hold, as the popular outfielder did not accept the team's plea to remain in Hokkaido on Tuesday.
Morimoto, who has qualified for overseas free agency, met with team officials in Tokyo where they made him a new offer to stay, but the 29-year-old former All-Star did not give an immediate answer.
The Fighters are willing to keep talking, even if Morimoto decides to exercise his free agency rights.