Former Seibu Lions second baseman Hatsuhiko Tsuji is a prime candidate to manage the Pacific League club next season, an informed source said Wednesday.
Current Lions skipper Norio Tanabe will resign at the end of this season. Tanabe, a former shortstop, and Tsuji were double play partners in the Seibu infield from 1989 to 1994. Tsuji is currently the infield and tactical coach for the Central League's Chunichi Dragons.
"If they contact me, I will consider it," Tsuji said before the Dragons' final regular season game at Tokyo Dome.
Tsuji, who joined the Lions out of the corporate leagues in 1984, won eight Golden Gloves at second base, and led the PL in batting average in 1993.
After finishing his career with the CL's Yakult Swallows, Tsuji coached for the Swallows and the BayStars from 2000 to 2004. He managed the Dragons' farm team with some success from 2007 to 2010.