Hanshin Tigers closer Kyuji Fujikawa re-signed with the club for an annual salary of 400 million, unchanged from last year, at spring training camp in Okinawa prefecture on Thursday.
The right-hander had 25 saves with a 1.25 ERA in 49 game appearances last season, down from 38 saves with a 0.67 ERA in 63 games in 2008.
''There are times when you cannot throw as a closer even if you wanted to,'' said senior club official Shoji Numazawa to explain Fujikawa's lackluster performance.
The Tigers finished in fourth last year in the Central League. All Hanshin players have signed their contracts for next season.
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