Renyel Pinto has signed a contract with the Softbank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. Pinto was given a one-year contract worth around $910,000 in US dollars. The 29-year-old left-hander had a nice showing in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason and should fare well this year in Japan.

According to the Japanese website Sponichi, the the Softbank Hawks are trying to lure left-hander Renyel Pinto to Japan. Pinto didn't pitch professionally this past season, but currently has a 2.55 ERA and 72/32 K/BB ratio over 77 2/3 innings with Caribes de Anzoategui in the Venezuelan Winter League. The 29-year-old southapw has also drawn interest from the Orioles this offseason. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2010 as a member of the Marlins.

According to MASN's Roch Kubatko, the Orioles are interested in signing left-hander Renyel Pinto. The O's have scouted Pinto over the past week in the Venezuela Winter League, and director of international operations David Stockstill met with him recently. The southpaw is likely to accept a minors deal.