Report: Aoki to sign with Japanese team

Nori Aoki is heading home.

Following a six-year stint in the big leagues, the veteran outfielder will reunite with the Japanese club he started his career with, agreeing Monday to a three-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to a report from Sponichi.

Aoki, who turned 36 earlier this month, bounced from the Houston Astros to the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets last season, managing a .728 OPS (98 OPS+) with five home runs, 20 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 109 games. Over parts of six major-league seasons, Aoki hit .285/.350/.387 (102 OPS+) in 758 contests split between the Mets, Blue Jays, Astros, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Before signing with the Brewers in 2012, Aoki was one of the top players in Japan, earning seven All-Star nominations, six Golden Glove awards, and three Central League batting titles across his eight seasons with Yakult, during which he hit .329/.402/.454 in 984 games.