The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles have signed pitcher Radhames Liz to a one-year deal, the Pacific League club announced Thursday.
A 189-cmright-hander, the 32-year-old Liz pitched in 14 games this past season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA. He struck out 27 batters and walked 12, while allowing four home runs in 23-1/3 innings.
Liz pitched three seasons for the LG Twins in the Korean Baseball Organization from 2011 to 2013, during which time he went 26-38 with a 3.51 ERA.
"His fastball sits over 150 kph, so he can either start or relieve," the team's executive general manager Hiroshi Abei said of the Dominican, whose contract is estimated at ¥100 million (roughly $815,000).