Former major league infielder Kazuo Matsui is set to join the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, sources said Wednesday.
Matsui, who will be returning to Japanese baseball next year for the first time since 2003, has reached an agreement with Rakuten and an official announcement is expected to be made in the coming days.
Akinori Iwamura has already signed with Rakuten after coming back from the big leagues.
Matsui, who turns 36 next year, last played in Japan with the Seibu Lions before signing as a free agent with the New York Mets in 2004 to become the first Japanese infielder in the majors.