Softbank Nao Higashihama (35) announced on the 9th that he would exercise his domestic free agent (FA) rights. He visited the team office inside Mizuho PayPay Dome and submitted his application documents. "My shoulder, elbow, and body are still in good health. I want to pitch as much as I can at the forefront. I made this declaration after fully understanding my position and everything else. I just want to pitch," he said, revealing his intention to wait for offers from other teams in search of opportunities to play as a starter.
He won the 2008 Senbatsu championship as a student at Okinawa Shogaku. He went on to play for Asia University and was drafted by Softbank in the first round in 2012, winning the most wins with 16 in 2005, becoming the first player from Okinawa pitcher to win the most wins no hitter in 22 years and totaling 76 wins and 46 losses in 13 years as a pro ERA 3.30. In the final year of his three-year contract, he failed to establish himself in the starting rotation, going only 4-2 in seven games ERA and 2.51 in the Japan Series. In the Japan Series, he was reliever a key member of the lineup and bullpen waited in the wings, but was never given an opportunity to play. Western League In the Japan Series, he was 7-3 in 13 games, ERA 1.85.
His estimated annual salary is 150 million yen, and he is considered a B-rank player, which requires monetary or personnel compensation. The team has already presented him with terms for next season, and is also open to him declaring his intention to stay.
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・ [Softbank] Nao Higashihama, who has a total of 76 wins, declares free agency, saying, "I still have a strong desire to pitch well on the first team stage."
・ DeNA's Hikaru Ito has completed the exercise of his overseas free agent rights, playing in only six games this season, the fewest since his transfer... "I want to hear what other teams think" as he considers a domestic transfer
・ [Seibu] Hiroto Hiraguchi, the left-handed pitcher selected 5th in the development draft, has agreed to join the team. "I want to show my sharpness and control and be registered as a regular player from my first year."
・ [Softbank] Nao Higashihama to exercise domestic free agency rights. Still in good health with a 1.85 ERA in the second team. Is he ranked B and needing personnel compensation?
・ [Chunichi] Takahiro Matsuba declares that he will exercise his overseas free agency rights, saying "this is the last chance" and the team will allow him to stay.
