Pacific League Chairman Tadao Koike on Tuesday refused to accept an application from Takahiko "G.G." Sato for salary arbitration and requested that the outfielder and the Seibu Lions try to reach agreement through negotiations.
In the presence of the league chairman, Sato and senior Seibu official Kosuke Maeda confirmed later in the day that the two sides will resume talks on Friday.
"I concluded that there was room for talks. The general rule is that players and clubs set annual salary through negotiations," Koike told reporters.