Yabuta Yasuhiko became the most recent Japanese free agent signing with a major league team, inking  a long rumored two-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Yabuta is 34 and has spent 12 seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League. In Kansas City he’ll join new manager Trey Hillman, who was supposedly instrumental in pursueding Yabuta to sign.

Yabuta doesn’t project to be anything special, but this is a low-key, low-impact signing that could pay dividends for the Royals. Yabuta will compete for a job as a primary setup man.

The deal will pay Yabuta $2.5 million next season and $3 million in 2009, with a $4 million option for 2010.

(Via Japanball.com)