Giants agree to pay Uehara 400 million yen

Right-hander Koji Uehara complained this past season when he was forced to go from starter to closer for the Yomiuri Giants.

But he was all smiles on Wednesday when the team agreed to pay him 400 million yen for his upcoming 10th season with the Central League champions.

The 32-year-old Uehara, who was made the bullpen stopper for the first time in his career, closed out a team-record 32 games and had a 1.74 ERA and got a 90 million yen pay hike after a season in which he walked just four batters in 62 innings.

Uehara, who went 4-3, fanned 66 and surrendered just four home runs in helping the Giants to their first league title in five years.

"I didn't know how they were going to evaluate me as a closer, but it sure felt good signing that contract," Uehara said.

During negations, Uehara stipulated that he wanted to return to his role as a starter. That was likely guaranteed when the Giants recently signed Marc Kroon--a closer with 84 saves in three seasons in Japan--away from the Yokohama BayStars.

"There are many things I can use as a starter such as how important each pitch is," Uehara said.

And Uehara should try to put that learned knowledge to use. He was 9-12 in 2005 and went 8-9 the next year as a starter.

Uehara last won in double figures when he went 13-5 in '04.

"In recent years, I haven't really put together the results I want," Uehara said. "I plan to go out and turn that around next season."

Uehara can become a free agent during the upcoming season, and the club didn't offer him a multi-year deal.

"I'll discuss all that when the time comes," Uehara said.

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Dragons lock up Wada

The Japan Series-winning Chunichi Dragons on Wednesday signed free agent Kazuhiro Wada to a three-year deal worth 800 million yen, plus incentives.

A Gifu native, Wada, 35, said he was thrilled to put on the uniform of the team he had worshipped as a youth.

Wada, who won the Pacific League batting title with Seibu in 2005, batted .315 this past season and is expected to help replace the production of All-Star Kosuke Fukudome, who signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Also, Chunichi re-signed hard-throwing right-hander Rafael Cruz to a one-year deal worth an estimated 14 million yen.

Cruz, who had a 2.66 ERA in 17 appearances this past season, was 1-3 after being signed from the development team.

[Full Article: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20071227TDY19301.htm]