Free aagent pitcher Hiroyuki Kobayashi expects to sign with a major league team by mid-January, the former Lotte Marine said Friday.
Speaking at Chiba Marine Stadium where he was clearing out his locker, the 32-year-old Kobayashi said he should know where he will play next season shortly into the new year.
Kobayashi will start his offseason workouts next month in Okinawa with former teammate Saburo Omura.
"I think I'll know by then," he said. "I'm not in any hurry.