Cuban slugger, Alfredo Despaigne, 30, will most likely be staying to play in Japan for next season, and for other years to come. He has already expressed his desire to stay, and is likely to re-sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines on a record breaking deal, which is currently at 3-year/1.2 billion Yen (10.5 million USD), if it happens, Despaigne’s contract will be the highest ever deal handed out in franchise history, according to the report. Multiple NPB teams have also shown interest in signing him this off-season.

Alfredo Despaigne has posted pretty good numbers in his tenure in NPB. Playing for 3 years in Japan’s Ichi-gun (the country’s Major leagues), he currently owns a batting line of .277/.360/.497 with 54 homeruns and 187 RBI in 282 games played (1161 PA, along with 1010 AB), primarily as an outfielder. He finished his 2016 regular season campaign with a batting line of .280/.361/.480 with 24 homeruns and 92 RBI in 134 games played (570 PA, 496 AB) in the year… Despaigne has also garnered the interest of some Major league teams when he was still playing in Cuba, and even still now today.