Sledge to Nippon Ham Fighters

Padres experiment Terrmel Sledge has accepted a $2.85M contract to play with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific League. Based in Sapporo on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. The Ham Fighters went from the Kansas City Royals of Japan to a team of prominence under the leadership on Trey Hillman, who will try to do the same for the real Royals in 2008. The Ham Fighters have also featured former Padre Brian Sweeney. Sledge was the only aspect of the major trade that sent Adam Eaton, Akinori Otsuka, et. al. to Texas for Sledge, Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young that didn't click with the Friars. Regardless, we wish Sledge bon voyage and hope he enjoys his time in Japan as much as FF did.