Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

SEATTLE, KYODO, (AP) Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima will opt out of the final two years of his three-year, $24 million contract and will return to Japan to play there, the team said Monday.

Johjima, the only Japan-born catcher to test his skills at the major league level, said, "This was a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally."

"I feel now is the time to go home, while I still can perform at a very high level. Playing close to family and friends was a major factor," he said.

The former Fukuoka Softbank Hawks star will forfeit more than $16 million by leaving Seattle early.

The Hanshin Tigers have already expressed interest in acquiring Johjima.

"We want him very badly," Tigers president Nobuo Minami said following the Mariners' announcement that the 33-year-old Jojima plans to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and return to Japan.

"He can hit in the middle of the lineup somewhere. We'd like to meet him in person," Minami continued.

Johjima batted .268 during his four seasons with the Mariners, hitting 48 home runs and driving in 198 runs in 462 games. A starter during his first two seasons in the big leagues, injuries and lack of production limited his playing time to 71 games this past season and 112 games in 2008.

"I know he wanted to play every day," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "And the two stints on the disabled list this year didn't help. There was a lot of pressure on him to produce and the way the year went with the injuries hurt him."

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