The Sidelines : Ozzie Canseco Going to Japan

Ozzie Canseco, the twin brother of Oakland Athletics star Jose Canseco, has signed a one-year contract with the Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League.

Kintetsu spokesman Minoru Ichihara said today the contract calls for the Japanese club to pay a fee to the Athletics for releasing the 26-year-old outfielder.

Canseco hit 21 home runs for Huntsville of the Southern League last season and also played in nine games for the Athletics. He began his career as a pitcher in the New York Yankees organization in 1983 and made the transition to the outfield in 1986, his first season in the Oakland organization.

Ichihara declined to disclose the amount of Canseco’s salary or release fee, but Kyodo News Service reported the salary to be an estimated $200,000 and the release fee an estimated $250,000.