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Uchiyama Doubles Salary in Yakult Deal as Infield Move Looms, Nishikawa Renewed at ¥57 Million

Performance-based renewals cap a day of NPB contract talks featuring role shifts, ambitious targets.

Overview

  • Yakult catcher Sohma Uchiyama agreed to an estimated ¥44 million, doubling his pay after reaching qualifying plate appearances with a .262 average, 8 homers and 48 RBIs.
  • Uchiyama will shift to the infield next season, change to jersey No. 3 and stated a goal of earning the cleanup role.
  • Yakult infielder Yoshihiro Akaba, who played a career-high 103 games across all infield and outfield spots, signed for an estimated ¥22 million.
  • Seibu’s Kento Nishikawa finalized an estimated ¥57 million after winning his first Golden Glove, stealing 25 bases and setting a personal best with 134 hits.
  • Nishikawa set targets of playing every game next season and chasing the hits title, with all reported figures noted by outlets as estimates.