TOKYO —Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu is going back to Japan to play, agreeing to a deal with an independent league team.

Irabu, 40, will pitch for the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku-Kyushu Island League, team officials said Saturday.

Irabu signed with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League in April and went 5-3 with an ERA of 3.58. He made 10 starts, striking out 66 and walking 19 in 65 innings. He started his career with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League and signed a four-year, $12.8 million contract with the Yankees in 1997.

After three seasons with New York, Irabu played for the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers before returning to Japan with the Hanshin Tigers in 2003.