NISHINOMIYA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Hanshin Tigers right-handed side-armer Koyo Aoyagi's posting system application has been accepted by Major League Baseball, the Central League club announced Wednesday.

Aoyagi, who will turn 31 next Wednesday, has 45 days to negotiate a deal. Should an agreement be reached with an MLB club, a posting fee will be paid to Hanshin calculated from the total amount he is guaranteed in his signing bonus and salary.

On Nov. 5, Aoyagi declared he would be seeking a move to the big leagues, and now that the process has begun he said, "It's starting to sink in once more that I'm entering the negotiation period."

"I'm grateful to the club for backing my endeavor."

Hanshin's fifth-round draft pick ahead of the 2016 season, Aoyagi led the CL in both 2021 and 2022 with 13 wins. He went 8-6 with a 4.57 ERA in 2023 and 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA this year.

He is 61-47 with a 3.08 ERA over his nine years in Nippon Professional Baseball.