Baseball | Ex-Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima signs with Hanshin of Japan

FUKUOKA, Japan — Former Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima has agreed to join the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.

Johjima held talks with his former team, the Softbank Hawks of the Pacific League, but has opted instead to join the Tigers, getting a four-year deal worth $21 million.

"Hanshin was the first team to set up talks with me," Johjima said. "I'll do everything I can do to help the team win."

Johjima opted out of the final two seasons and $15.8 million of his contract with the Mariners, allowing him to finish his career in Japan.

Johjima, 33, hit .268 in his four seasons with Seattle, with 48 homers and 198 runs batted in. He set an American League record for hits by a rookie catcher (147 in 2006).

Johjima hit .247 in 71 games this year, losing playing time to injuries and the Mariners' use of rookie catcher Rob Johnson.

Astros hire Mills

HOUSTON — Brad Mills is finally getting his chance to run a big-league team.

The 52-year-old Mills was hired by Houston after six seasons as Terry Francona's bench coach in Boston. He will manage in the majors for the first time, though he has managed a total of 11 seasons in the minors, with affiliates for the Chicago Cubs (1987-92), Colorado Rockies (1993-96) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002).

"One thing that I'm going to bring in is a freshness, being with a champion and bringing that freshness in," Mills said. "It's a fresh voice, it's a new voice."

General manager Ed Wade said Mills agreed to a two-year contract, with a team option for the third. The Astros made an offer to former Nationals manager Manny Acta over the weekend, but Acta took the Cleveland Indians' job instead.

Mills set aside the notion he was the Astros' second choice.

"I'm going to move on from that," Mills said.

The Astros fired Cecil Cooper on Sept 21. Third-base coach Dave Clark served as interim manager for the final 13 games and Houston finished 74-88.

Notes

• The $845 million sale of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and other assets from the Tribune Co. to the Ricketts family was completed, more than 2 ½ years after the franchise was put on the market. The family of billionaire Joe Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade, takes a 95 percent controlling interest in the baseball franchise, its ballpark and 25 percent of Comcast SportsNet, which broadcasts many Cubs games.

• Jamie McCourt filed for divorce from Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and asked a judge to reinstate her as the team's chief executive, signaling what could be a lengthy fight over the franchise. The McCourts have been married since 1979.

• Outfielder Gabe Kapler, 34, re-signed with Tampa Bay.