Japan's Hawks join clamor for returning Johjima

TOKYO (Reuters) - Catcher Kenji Johjima's former club the Softbank Hawks have joined to race to sign the 33-year-old following his decision to leave Seattle and return to Japan.

Johjima opted out of the final two years of his deal with Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners earlier this week, alerting a host of Japanese ballclubs.

The Hanshin Tigers were first to declare their interest on Tuesday, quickly followed by the struggling Hawks, where Johjima made his name before switching to MLB.

"The Hawks need a player of his authority," Hawks chairman and former manager Sadaharu Oh told reporters Wednesday.

"It would be fantastic to have him wear the uniform again."

Johjima, who helped Japan retain the World Baseball Classic title earlier this year, signed a three-year $24 million contract extension with the Mariners during the 2008 season.

He batted .268 during four seasons in Seattle, hitting 48 home runs with 198 RBI. Injuries limited Johjima to 71 games in 2009 when he batted .247 with nine home runs.

"The club needs to form a plan to sign him," said Oh. "Otherwise we'll be out of the running."

Johjima played for the Fukuoka-based team's forerunner, the Daiei Hawks, from 1995 to 2005 and was a seven-times golden glove winner in Japan.

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by Peter Rutherford)