Outfielder Norichika Aoki, 36, will play again for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the upcoming season, it was learned Tuesday.
Aoki has been a free agent since he was released by the New York Mets last year. A senior official of the Swallows confirmed Aoki will finalize a deal soon.
He will rejoin the club for the first time since 2011, and is expected to receive an estimated 1 billion yen salary on a three-year deal. His uniform number will be 23. Aoki is likely to join the Swallows' spring training camp in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, in early February.
Aoki played on the Samurai Japan national team at the World Baseball Classic in March last year. He started last season with the Houston Astros, and in June notched milestone hit No. 2,000 combined in Japan and MLB.
He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in July and went to the Mets in September.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
