Takashi Saito has re-signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles on a one-year, $600,000 contract.

Saito turns 44 years old in February, but he's still a highly-effective relief pitcher and will keep plugging away in NPB. The right-hander had a 2.34 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in seven major league seasons (2006-2012).

Takashi Saito has signed a one-year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Saito will join fellow major leaguers Andruw Jones and Casey McGehee on the Golden Eagles, and he'll get to return to his hometown in Sendai, Japan. The soon-to-be 43-year-old was limited to 46 appearances over the last two seasons due to injury, but he'll take a career 2.34 MLB ERA and 10.7 K/9 rate back to his native country.

Diamondbacks designated RHP Takashi Saito for assignment.

The move was made in order to clear a spot on their 40-man roster following the acquisition of Heath Bell and Cliff Pennington. Saito is set to become a free agent this winter, anyway. He put up a 6.75 ERA over 16 games in an injury-shortened season with the D'Backs.

Diamondbacks activated RHP Takashi Saito from the 15-day disabled list.

Saito has been limited to 10 games this year due to various injuries. He'll join David Hernandez and Brad Ziegler in a setup role in front of closer J.J. Putz.

Takashi Saito (hamstring) is expected to rejoin the Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon.

Saito tossed a perfect inning Wednesday for one of the Diamondbacks' rookie-level squads. He has made just 10 relief appearances this season in the major leagues.

Diamondbacks placed RHP Takashi Saito on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

Saito missed the first half of the season with a calf strain and respiratory illness, and now he's sidelined again. The veteran right-hander could miss three weeks.

Takashi Saito (calf) tossed a second straight perfect inning at an Arizona League game Sunday.

Saito's next scheduled appearance will come Thursday. He's been out all season with a right calf strain and a respiratory illness but finally appears to be close to joining the Diamondbacks' bullpen. "We've just got to get him on a streak of good," said manager Kirk Gibson. "He threw more aggressive [Sunday], throwing more of his secondary pitches as well as his fastball. He's turning the corner."

Takashi Saito (calf) has resumed a throwing program.

Saito was setback by an illness earlier this week and hasn't yet been cleared for game action. He's made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Reno, but will likely need the duration of his 20-day rehab window before returning to the Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said he wants to make sure Takashi Saito (calf) can be healthy and effective before the team activates him.

Saito has made five rehab appearances and hasn't fared too well, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. "I don't want to make a move on my team right now and then have him come up here and pitch a game or two and get hurt," Gibson said. Saito should be activated before long if he can avoid a setback.

Takashi Saito (calf) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Reno.

Saito has been on the disabled list all season with a calf injury. It's not clear how long he'll spend in the minors, but the veteran right-hander might need a little while to shake the rust.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said that Takashi Saito (calf) has been throwing live batting practice in extended spring training.

Saito has been on the disabled list all season with a calf injury. Assuming he doesn't suffer another setback, he'll likely need a lengthy rehab assignment before being ready to join Arizona' bullpen.

Takashi Saito aggravated his strained right calf during pitchers' fielding practice Friday.

It will extend his stay on the DL, though it's not clear at this point for how much longer. Saito had been targeting the end of April for a return. "And that's when it happened, so he's not ready to pitch here," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "We'll have to back him down, keep his arm going and try to get his calf healed. It's not healed yet."

Takashi Saito (calf) tossed an inning of scoreless relief Friday in his rehab assignment for High-A Visalia.

Manager Kirk Gibson said Saito will pitch again Saturday before being reevaluated. He should be back with the Diamondbacks sometime in late-April.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said the team would like Takashi Saito (calf) to make 1-2 rehab appearances, but they'll have to consult with the veteran first.

"If he doesn't want to do that, have to rethink it," Gibson said. Because Saito has accrued enough service time, he has the option of refusing a rehab assignment. We imagine he'll be fine with making a couple minor league appearances, though. He should be back with the D'Backs sometime within the next week or so.

Takashi Saito (calf) allowed two runs on two hits while throwing 16 pitches in an extended spring game Monday.

Saito began the season on the disabled list due to a right calf strain, but he's making steady progress in his rehab. Barring any setbacks, he should join the D-Backs' in a week or so.

Takashi Saito (calf) made his third appearance in an extending spring training game Sunday.

Saito, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since the start of the regular season because of a right calf strain, should be cleared to join the Diamondbacks' bullpen in about a week. "Pitching-wise, his arm is in pretty good shape," manager Kirk Gibson said Monday. "I worry about the calf and his ability to cover bases."

Takashi Saito (calf) could be ready to return to the Diamondbacks' bullpen near the beginning of their upcoming home-stand.

The 42-year-old Saito has been dominant throughout his career as long as he's been able to remain healthy. He'll likely slot as the 7th inning option for the Diamondbacks, protecting then turning leads over to David Hernandez and J.J. Putz.

Takashi Saito (calf) will appear in an extended spring training game Friday in Arizona.

Saito threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday and continues to make rapid progress from his late-spring right calf strain. He should join the Diamondbacks' already-talented bullpen by the end of April.

Takashi Saito (calf) threw from 120 feet Friday and is scheduled to throw on flat ground Sunday.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Saito is feeling better, but he offered no timetable for the reliever. The veteran right-hander seems likely to be ready by late April if he doesn't have any setbacks.

Diamondbacks' general manager Kevin Towers said Monday that they didn't have Takashi Saito take a physical before signing him because they thought he would fail.

"We knew he probably would have failed his physical based on everything that we've heard over the last four or five years," said Towers. "...We thought that the skill-set and what he could bring to the club far outweighed the risk." Saito, who turned 42 earlier this month, posted a 2.03 ERA and 23/9 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings with the Brewers last season. The D-Backs have put him on a different schedule than the rest of the pitchers in camp in an effort to keep him healthy going into 2012.