The Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes announced Saturday that manager Akinobu Okada will not be offered a new contract when his current three-year deal expires at the end of the season.
The 54-year-old Okada came to Orix in 2010 after managing the Hanshin Tigers from 2004 to 2008. Hanshin won the Central League pennant in 2005 but was swept out of the Japan Series in four games. The Tigers reached the CL Climax Series in 2007 and 2008, but Okada stepped down after the team fell for the second straight season in the first stage.
The Buffaloes finished fifth in his first year at the helm and fourth last season but have crashed into last this season. On Sept. 18, the team was eliminated from playoff contention.
A slugging second baseman, Okada starred at Waseda University and was a key member of the Tigers' only Japan Series championship team in 1985. The Osaka native finished his playing career with the Orix BlueWave.
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