Slugging infielder Akinori Iwamura will be given his walking papers by the Central League's Tokyo Yakult Swallows, informed sources revealed on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old Iwamura, who is reportedly keen to continue his active career, played in just 39 games this season with a .243 batting average and one home run. He has played in 1,194 games in Japan, mostly as a third baseman Yakult, and 408 in the big leagues, primarily as a second baseman with Tampa Bay.
Iwamura won six CL Golden Gloves at third base and two CL Best IX Awards during his first stint with Yakult, when he was a key member of its 2001 Japan Series-winning squad. A left-handed hitter, Iwamura has a career batting average in Japan of .290 with 193 home runs and 615 RBIs. He moved to the majors in 2007 and reached the 2008 World Series with the Rays.
In 2010, Iwamura wrapped up his big league tenure in stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics. He played two seasons with the Pacific League's Rakuten Eagles before returning to Yakult in 2013.