Hideki Irabu retires
Former New York Yankees and Hanshin Tigers pitcher Hideki Irabu has decided to retire, Hanshin officials said Friday.
The 35-year-old right-hander asked the Tigers at the end of March to organize a press conference to announce his retirement but the two sides have yet to agree on a date.
Irabu, who started his career with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League, joined the Yankees in 1997 on a US$12.8 million, four-year contract.
He spent three seasons with the Yankees before being shipped to the Montreal Expos in 2000. Irabu's best season with the Yankees was in 1998 when he went 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA.
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