Chicago Cubs third baseman Vance Law says he will go to Japan for the next two seasons after the team asked waivers on him with the intent of selling him to the Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya.
Law said late Thursday night that he chose Japan instead of accepting a non-guaranteed contract with the Cubs, who plan to use Luis Salazar and Domingo Ramos at third base next season.Law could have signed with another major-league club if the Cubs had released him last month, but the team hoped to get something in return, officials said.
"I wish that this (release) had happened about three weeks ago, so I could have signed with another major-league club," Law said. "It would have made it a lot easier on my life, but I guess that's the nature of the game."
In eight major-league seasons, Law batted .257 with 71 homers and 433 RBIs. His best season was 1988 with the Cubs, when he hit .293 with 11 homers and 78 RBIs, one fewer than team leader Andre Dawson.
Jim Frey, the Cubs executive vice president for baseball operations, said he had tried to trade Law during the general managers meetings and winter meetings, but found only "mild interest."
Frey said he held out hope for a deal during spring training, when injuries to other third basemen could raise Law's value. But Law decided to take the security of Japan.
Law is optimistic he'll be able to return to the big leagues.
"After two years, maybe expansion will have taken place, and hopefully there'll be a team that will need me," he said.