Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who parted ways with the Seattle Mariners this offseason, has agreed to a one-year deal to join the Yomiuri Giants next season, the team said Thursday night.
The 37-year-old hurler, who underwent an endoscopic procedure on his pitching shoulder in September 2017, spent the past season trying to rehab.
In autumn, the Mariners asked him to become a coach but he declined in pursuit of continuing his career. Iwakuma's search for a team included those in the major leagues and Japan.
"I'm continuing to train by playing catch and it's feeling good," he said when asked about his shoulder at a November event in Tokyo.
He also said at the time: "I'm the kind of player who is motivated by my feelings. I want to play for, and show my appreciation to, the team that wants me the most."
Iwakuma left the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles as a free agent in the 2011 offseason to join Seattle, where he posted double digits in wins in 2013, '14 and '16.
He became the second Japanese pitcher to toss a no-hitter when he blanked the Baltimore Orioles in August 2015.
Iwakuma was 63-39 with two saves and a 3.42 ERA in the big leagues. He is 107-69 with a 3.25 ERA in Nippon Professional Baseball.
He won the Sawamura Award in 2008 when he posted 21 victories.
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