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Former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Eric Thames will play in Japan next year, joining fellow longtime big leaguer Justin Smoak on the Yomiuri Giants.

Thames agreed to a 1-year deal worth a reported $1.2 million with the club. His signing comes one day after Smoak signed with the club for upward of $6 million, according to reports.



The Giants reached the Japan Series in 2020 but were swept by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks for the championship.

Thames, 34, averaged 24 homers a year in three seasons with the Brewers from 2017-19. He struggled to find success last season with the Washington Nationals as he hit .203 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 41 games.

Thames previously played overseas for three seasons (2014-16) with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. He smacked 124 homers during the stint and was named MVP in 2015.

Smoak, also 34, earned an All-Star selection in 2017 with the Toronto Blue Jays and has slugged 196 homers across an 11-season career. He also struggled at the plate last season as he hit .176 with five homers in 15 RBIs in 36 games with the Brewers and San Francisco Giants.



–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)