Japanese ace Yankees bound

Major League Baseball confirmed the Yankees as the winning bidder for the strikeout king, reportedly beating out the New York Mets.

Igawa, 27, went 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA in Japan last season and has a career record of 86-60 with a 2.97 ERA. He led the Central League in strikeouts in 2002 and 2004 and tied for the lead with 194 in 2006.

New York now has until Dec 28 to come to contract terms with the pitcher and they will only pay the Tigers the reported $25 million if they succeed in signing him.

"We have been following Kei Igawa's very successful and accomplished career in Japan, and we are excited about the opportunity to begin the negotiating process with him," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a release.

"I'm confident that if we are successful in bringing Mr. Igawa to the Bronx, the Yankees' organisation along with our passionate and diverse fan base can provide the same type of commitment and excitement that he has become so accustomed to."

The Boston Red Sox bid $51.1 million earlier in November to get the rights to negotiate with pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.

Boston has until Dec. 14 to sign Matsusaka.

Earlier this month the Tampa Bay Devils Rays paid $4.5 million for the rights to infielder Akinori Iwamura of the Yakult Swallows.